President Ersin Tatar evaluated the reaction of the Greek Cypriot Administration in relation to the visit of the Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Major General Ingrid Gjerde, who was visiting the Security Forces Command.



President Tatar made the following statement:


"Whilst the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its lynching attacks against Dutch Parliamentarian Liane den Haan for visiting the TRNC, now it has also started targeting the UN Peacekeeping Force Commander, Major General Ingrid Gjerde, who visited the Security Forces Command (GKK).

The Greek Cypriot  Administration, which could not tolerate Major General Gjerde's meeting with the GKK Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, which took place in the presence of Turkish and TRNC flags, has resorted to putting forward vile attacks against Major General Gjerde and even taken an initiative that is aimed at his dismissal.

These ugly attacks show that the racist, anachronistic and inhumane mentality of the Greek Cypriot Administration has not changed.


The EU and others who talk about human rights remain spectators whilst the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its attempts to silence the TRNC and destroy its international relations while at the same time leading the implementation of inhumane isolation and embargoes against the Turkish Cypriot people.   This attitude of the Greek Cypriot Administration is unacceptable and runs in contrary to human rights.


The Greek Cypriot side, which continues to see itself as the sole rulers of Cyprus, are regrettably continuing to put forward a hegemonic approach, which sees the Greek Cypriots are superior and the Turkish Cypriot people a minority.

The ‘Republic of Cyprus’ has turned into a Greek Cypriot run state, whilst the existence of the TRNC continues to be ignored.    This is not acceptable to us. There are two separate states in Cyprus and the state of the Turkish Cypriot people is the TRNC.


The TRNC, which was formed out of the sovereignty and free will exercised by the Turkish Cypriot people, will continue its international relations.  No power will be able to prevent this and our flags will continue to be hoisted.


Our advice to the Greek Cypriot Administration is to put an end to its racist and hostile attitudes and behaviours, to respect human rights, and to respond positively to our calls for a settlement. It should not be forgotten that the Turkish Cypriot people have all kinds of rights on this island at least as much as the Greek Cypriots and will never give up on their rights.”