President Ersin Tatar made a statement to the press regarding his İstanbul and Antalya visit at Ercan Airport.

 

President Tatar stated that talks were held with the Turkish Chamber of Commerce in İstanbul where the issue of investing in the TRNC was discussed and they agreed that the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries should increase their consultations.


Expressing that the main reason for going to İstanbul was to attend the 47th anniversary event of the Peace and Freedom Day organised by the İstanbul Branch of the Cyprus Turkish Cultural Association, President Tatar said that the latest developments in the TRNC were explained in his addresses made at the event.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, the President stated that he had underlined the importance of  the new policy of having a separate independent State. “Our position for having a settlement that is based on the sovereign equality of the sides that is based on the existence of two States that coexist side-by-side that are in cooperation is what we put forward at the five-plus-UN informal meeting held in Geneva. This vision has the backing of Motherland and Guarantor Turkey,” President Tatar said.  

 

Expressing that he also met with the Cyprus veterans in İstanbul and explained the details of the Cyprus issue, President Tatar stated that he reiterated the importance of the Cyprus Peace Operation to the veterans there.


Reminding that he also visited Cengiz Topel's grave, President Tatar stated that Cengiz Topel is an important name in the struggle in Cyprus, adding that soil taken from the place where he was martyred in Cyprus was also left in Topel's grave in İstanbul.


President Tatar stated that he also visited Antalya after his İstanbul contacts and that he went to the fire management centre where he met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.  “I was able to speak with my dear friend, Mr Çavuşoğlu, and members of the public who have fallen victim to the catastrophic forest fires in the region. I expressed our support and solidarity as the TRNC. The pain of Turkey, is our pain,” President Tatar said.  

Expressing that the fires and fire extinguishing efforts in some regions of Turkey are continuing, President Tatar stated that the fires will be extinguished towards the weekend with the decrease in humidity.


President Tatar added that he had also visited a place in Manavgat, where the fire first broke out and wished well to the people of the region. 

Reiterating that a team of 21 people were on route from TRNC to Antalya via Taşucu, President Tatar said that TRNC is making effort to be with Turkey in these difficult days with tools and equipment and to share their sorrow and pain.   President Tatar also wished  the TRNC team success  in their efforts.


President Ersin Tatar wished God's mercy on those who lost their lives in the fire in Turkey, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.