President Ersin Tatar gives messages to the US and the world from Maraş in his interview by Hürriyet newspaper reporter Hande Fırat
“The next stage in Maraş may be the opening of some public buildings. We shall be celebrating the second anniversary of the opening of the fenced-part of Maraş on October 8, 2022 with a concert at 12:00pm, a gift will be presented to the first comer.”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar has given important messages to the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and reacted to the US over its lifting of the arms embargo on South Cyprus in an interview in Maraş to Hürriyet newspaper reporter Hande Fırat.
Reacting to the decision of the US to lift the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration, the President said: “Arming the island goes well beyond the logic of defence, it is in fact a siege”.
The President said Greece was escalating tensions in the Aegean and Cyprus by relying on the US, which had lifted the arms embargo on South Cyprus and has also included the Greek Cypriot Administration in a military training scheme. He said the US was twinning the Greek Cypriots with New Jersey and are to receive military training, which has been criticised by the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC.
“The steps of the USA are unlawful and only serve to create tension”
“The guarantors in Cyprus are Türkiye, Greece and the UK, which emanates from international treaties. Despite the existence of these treaties, how is it possible for the Greek Cypriots to enter into different agreements? Not only is this unlawful, it is a situation that will serve to escalate tensions. The war in Ukraine has changed everything. Limassol, on the Greek Cypriot side, has almost become a Russian city with so many Russian investments, their own television channels and radio stations. They are even preparing to form a political party.
The Greek Cypriot side has to comply with the EU's decisions regarding Russia, since it is a member of the union. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriots, who have distanced themselves from Russia, panicked about the prospect of direct flights being initiated from that country to the TRNC. Now the US rewards the Greek Cypriot side. At the same time, they want to cause trouble for Türkiye and force it to reconsider its relationship with Russia.”
"Arming the island is in fact a siege"
President Tatar said that arming South Cyprus goes well beyond the logic of defence and added that it is in fact a siege. “This is challenging Türkiye,” the President said. “No one should underestimate the military capabilities and power of Motherland Türkiye. If the United States is talking about law and justice, how can it be a spectator to the persecution of innocent people?”.
Response to Anastasiades
In response to the statement of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades that they will ‘not sit idly against Turkish threats’, President Tatar said: “When it is a matter of our existence and security, as mujahideen [freedom fighter], of course we shall always come forward and show that we exist. Everybody should talk according to their own capabilities and strength. If needed, military reinforcements can be made by the Republic of Türkiye within an hour. Neither we nor the Republic of Türkiye have our eyes on or are stacking any claims on the other side. All we want is to be able to continue our security in peace and prosperity,” he said.
In response to the question as to whether there will be a direct flight from Russia, President Tatar said: “A few companies have been trying to get permission on this matter. There is also a pending application. We are in consultations to avoid diplomatic and political problems. In any event, tourists from every country have the opportunity and can come to the TRNC via the Republic of Türkiye.”
A rebuke to guarantor Britain
President Tatar said: “I want to express my disappointment with guarantor Britain. Prince Charles became King, his father is of Greek origin. He has a fascination with Greeks. However, the people of the UK appreciate the facts with regards to Cyprus, which is that the UK is also continuing to do a great injustice to its own people".
"Erdogan's speech at the UN General Assembly has taken our politics one step further"
As regards the historic speech of President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2022 where he called on the international community to formally recognise the TRNC, President Tatar said: “It is a historical statement. We must have our own State. The call for recognition has taken our strengthened our policy and taken it a step further.
“It is no longer possible to unite these two structures, these two States. It is just not possible to have one roof, one sovereignty. We will not take part in any negotiations without the recognition of our sovereignty, equality and equal international status. If there is to be a treaty, it will be on the basis of two States”.
Responding to a question as to which country will recognise the TRNC, President Tatar answered: “We are on the agenda to be accepted into the Organisation of Turkish States as an observer. I am hopeful that this will come to fruition. The next stage is for us to build bilateral relations with different countries which will be possible with the students studying in the TRNC and the increase in tourism and interaction between people. It will happen gradually, with diplomatic steps.”
Transforming from being a ghost town to an open air museum
President Tatar stated that the fenced part of Maraş (Varosha) used to be called a ghost town of which a part was opened on October 8, 2020 at exactly 12pm, where he added: “It is no longer a ghost town, but an open air museum with its two magnificent beaches that are open to the public”.
President Tatar said: “We waited for 47 years for an agreement [settlement] to be reached. But it has never happened because of the continuous rejections of the Greek Cypriot Side. It was our right to open Maraş and we did. Despite the pandemic, the number of people who have visited Maraş has far exceeded 750,000.”
The President continued: “The lands belong to the foundations/trusts [Evkaf] from the Ottoman times, some of the buildings on it belong to the Greeks and some to the British. There are also public buildings. In this regard, there is the Immovable Property Commission which has been established to deal with immovable properties. Former inhabitants of Maraş who want to apply in relation to properties should apply to this Immovable Property Commission. The next stage in 'Maraş' may be the opening of some public buildings. We shall be celebrating the second anniversary of its opening on October 8, 2022 with a concert and at exactly 12:00pm, a gift will be handed to the first visitor. Maraş has the most beautiful beach in the world, you cannot find one as beautiful anywhere else. I find peace here and I try to come as often as I can.”
Reacting to the decision of the US to lift the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration, the President said: “Arming the island goes well beyond the logic of defence, it is in fact a siege”.
The President said Greece was escalating tensions in the Aegean and Cyprus by relying on the US, which had lifted the arms embargo on South Cyprus and has also included the Greek Cypriot Administration in a military training scheme. He said the US was twinning the Greek Cypriots with New Jersey and are to receive military training, which has been criticised by the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC.
“The steps of the USA are unlawful and only serve to create tension”
“The guarantors in Cyprus are Türkiye, Greece and the UK, which emanates from international treaties. Despite the existence of these treaties, how is it possible for the Greek Cypriots to enter into different agreements? Not only is this unlawful, it is a situation that will serve to escalate tensions. The war in Ukraine has changed everything. Limassol, on the Greek Cypriot side, has almost become a Russian city with so many Russian investments, their own television channels and radio stations. They are even preparing to form a political party.
The Greek Cypriot side has to comply with the EU's decisions regarding Russia, since it is a member of the union. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriots, who have distanced themselves from Russia, panicked about the prospect of direct flights being initiated from that country to the TRNC. Now the US rewards the Greek Cypriot side. At the same time, they want to cause trouble for Türkiye and force it to reconsider its relationship with Russia.”
"Arming the island is in fact a siege"
President Tatar said that arming South Cyprus goes well beyond the logic of defence and added that it is in fact a siege. “This is challenging Türkiye,” the President said. “No one should underestimate the military capabilities and power of Motherland Türkiye. If the United States is talking about law and justice, how can it be a spectator to the persecution of innocent people?”.
Response to Anastasiades
In response to the statement of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades that they will ‘not sit idly against Turkish threats’, President Tatar said: “When it is a matter of our existence and security, as mujahideen [freedom fighter], of course we shall always come forward and show that we exist. Everybody should talk according to their own capabilities and strength. If needed, military reinforcements can be made by the Republic of Türkiye within an hour. Neither we nor the Republic of Türkiye have our eyes on or are stacking any claims on the other side. All we want is to be able to continue our security in peace and prosperity,” he said.
In response to the question as to whether there will be a direct flight from Russia, President Tatar said: “A few companies have been trying to get permission on this matter. There is also a pending application. We are in consultations to avoid diplomatic and political problems. In any event, tourists from every country have the opportunity and can come to the TRNC via the Republic of Türkiye.”
A rebuke to guarantor Britain
President Tatar said: “I want to express my disappointment with guarantor Britain. Prince Charles became King, his father is of Greek origin. He has a fascination with Greeks. However, the people of the UK appreciate the facts with regards to Cyprus, which is that the UK is also continuing to do a great injustice to its own people".
"Erdogan's speech at the UN General Assembly has taken our politics one step further"
As regards the historic speech of President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2022 where he called on the international community to formally recognise the TRNC, President Tatar said: “It is a historical statement. We must have our own State. The call for recognition has taken our strengthened our policy and taken it a step further.
“It is no longer possible to unite these two structures, these two States. It is just not possible to have one roof, one sovereignty. We will not take part in any negotiations without the recognition of our sovereignty, equality and equal international status. If there is to be a treaty, it will be on the basis of two States”.
Responding to a question as to which country will recognise the TRNC, President Tatar answered: “We are on the agenda to be accepted into the Organisation of Turkish States as an observer. I am hopeful that this will come to fruition. The next stage is for us to build bilateral relations with different countries which will be possible with the students studying in the TRNC and the increase in tourism and interaction between people. It will happen gradually, with diplomatic steps.”
Transforming from being a ghost town to an open air museum
President Tatar stated that the fenced part of Maraş (Varosha) used to be called a ghost town of which a part was opened on October 8, 2020 at exactly 12pm, where he added: “It is no longer a ghost town, but an open air museum with its two magnificent beaches that are open to the public”.
President Tatar said: “We waited for 47 years for an agreement [settlement] to be reached. But it has never happened because of the continuous rejections of the Greek Cypriot Side. It was our right to open Maraş and we did. Despite the pandemic, the number of people who have visited Maraş has far exceeded 750,000.”
The President continued: “The lands belong to the foundations/trusts [Evkaf] from the Ottoman times, some of the buildings on it belong to the Greeks and some to the British. There are also public buildings. In this regard, there is the Immovable Property Commission which has been established to deal with immovable properties. Former inhabitants of Maraş who want to apply in relation to properties should apply to this Immovable Property Commission. The next stage in 'Maraş' may be the opening of some public buildings. We shall be celebrating the second anniversary of its opening on October 8, 2022 with a concert and at exactly 12:00pm, a gift will be handed to the first visitor. Maraş has the most beautiful beach in the world, you cannot find one as beautiful anywhere else. I find peace here and I try to come as often as I can.”