President Ersin Tatar meets with business people at a meeting organised by the Turkish-German Employers' Association within the framework of his contacts in Berlin
“We expect support from business people for more tourists to visit the TRNC from Germany”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar paid tribute to successful Turkish businesspeople in Germany during a meeting organised by the Turkish-German Employers’ Association (TDU) on Wednesday.
President Tatar addressed the meeting, which brought together distinguished business people of the Turkish community in Berlin, where he stated that the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has always been an integral part of Türkiye”. Stating that Turkish business people in Germany have “become leaders in the German economy, the largest economy of the EU”, President Tatar called on the Turkish business people to invest in the TRNC, which he said is on route to becoming a greater centre of tourism in the Mediterranean.
“The TRNC has become a tourism trademark for its rich history, natural beautiful sights and hospitality of the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said. “Ercan Airport has opened its new terminal building that has a capacity of 10 million passengers per annum. Our country is, despite the inhumane isolation and restrictions, achieved a great deal across different sectors with the support of Motherland Türkiye,” he added.
Referring to the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to South Cyprus in February, President Tatar said: “The Greek Cypriot Side voted against the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan, also known as the Annan Plan, in April 2004, in the separately held simultaneous referenda. The Turkish Cypriot People voted in favour of the settlement plan. However, the EU accepted the Greek Cypriot Side as a member state a week after the referenda. The promises to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People – preventing direct trade and direct flights has never been honoured. In fact, the Greek Cypriot Side are using their EU membership to try and deepen our isolation and prevent our interaction with international actors and states, which is unacceptable and does not bow with good will. The German President should also have paid a visit to the Turkish Cypriot Side, in the interests of listening to the views of both Sides in Cyprus, to foster better understanding. Instead, they are treating the Greek Cypriot Side as though they are the sole masters of the land, and that Turkish Cypriots do not exist. This is not equality. This is not acting with impartiality. This does not help the efforts to move forward with a positive agenda. Everybody should be aware of the realities of Cyprus and the existence of two equal States.”
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side will “never abandon its two State vision” on the basis of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot Side, President Tatar added: “The TRNC has geostrategic importance in the eastern Mediterranean and is vital for the security of the Republic of Türkiye”.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot Side expelled the Turkish Cypriot People by force of arms in December 1963 and carried out island-wide attacks from 1963 to 1974, President Tatar stated that in July 1974, a coup d’etat carried out by the Greek Junta and the declaration of the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’ as part of the ENOSIS aspiration was the last straw. “Türkiye, as a guarantor power, undertook the Cyprus Peace Operation that stopped the bloodshed and brought peace to the island.
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected at least 15 federal based settlement plans for more than half-a-century, the last being the Annan Plan of 2004, and in Crans-Montana in 2017. “Negotiations on the federal basis have therefore been tried, failed and exhausted,” President Tatar said. “The Greek Cypriot Side have repeatedly demonstrated their mentality that obstructs a settlement that involves sharing power and prosperity on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
Pointing out that the Island of Cyprus formed part of the Ottoman Empire for more than 350 years, President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights, namely sovereign equality and equal international status, which needs to be reaffirmed. This is a position fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye.”
President Tatar pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side has adopted a position of “zero troops, zero guarantees", and underlined that the presence of Turkish soldiers on the Island and Türkiye's guarantee is a red line on which they will never compromise.
President Tatar stated that the TRNC wants to form “closer relations” with Germany.
President Tatar addressed the meeting, which brought together distinguished business people of the Turkish community in Berlin, where he stated that the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has always been an integral part of Türkiye”. Stating that Turkish business people in Germany have “become leaders in the German economy, the largest economy of the EU”, President Tatar called on the Turkish business people to invest in the TRNC, which he said is on route to becoming a greater centre of tourism in the Mediterranean.
“The TRNC has become a tourism trademark for its rich history, natural beautiful sights and hospitality of the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said. “Ercan Airport has opened its new terminal building that has a capacity of 10 million passengers per annum. Our country is, despite the inhumane isolation and restrictions, achieved a great deal across different sectors with the support of Motherland Türkiye,” he added.
Referring to the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to South Cyprus in February, President Tatar said: “The Greek Cypriot Side voted against the UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan, also known as the Annan Plan, in April 2004, in the separately held simultaneous referenda. The Turkish Cypriot People voted in favour of the settlement plan. However, the EU accepted the Greek Cypriot Side as a member state a week after the referenda. The promises to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People – preventing direct trade and direct flights has never been honoured. In fact, the Greek Cypriot Side are using their EU membership to try and deepen our isolation and prevent our interaction with international actors and states, which is unacceptable and does not bow with good will. The German President should also have paid a visit to the Turkish Cypriot Side, in the interests of listening to the views of both Sides in Cyprus, to foster better understanding. Instead, they are treating the Greek Cypriot Side as though they are the sole masters of the land, and that Turkish Cypriots do not exist. This is not equality. This is not acting with impartiality. This does not help the efforts to move forward with a positive agenda. Everybody should be aware of the realities of Cyprus and the existence of two equal States.”
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side will “never abandon its two State vision” on the basis of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot Side, President Tatar added: “The TRNC has geostrategic importance in the eastern Mediterranean and is vital for the security of the Republic of Türkiye”.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot Side expelled the Turkish Cypriot People by force of arms in December 1963 and carried out island-wide attacks from 1963 to 1974, President Tatar stated that in July 1974, a coup d’etat carried out by the Greek Junta and the declaration of the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’ as part of the ENOSIS aspiration was the last straw. “Türkiye, as a guarantor power, undertook the Cyprus Peace Operation that stopped the bloodshed and brought peace to the island.
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected at least 15 federal based settlement plans for more than half-a-century, the last being the Annan Plan of 2004, and in Crans-Montana in 2017. “Negotiations on the federal basis have therefore been tried, failed and exhausted,” President Tatar said. “The Greek Cypriot Side have repeatedly demonstrated their mentality that obstructs a settlement that involves sharing power and prosperity on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
Pointing out that the Island of Cyprus formed part of the Ottoman Empire for more than 350 years, President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights, namely sovereign equality and equal international status, which needs to be reaffirmed. This is a position fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye.”
President Tatar pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side has adopted a position of “zero troops, zero guarantees", and underlined that the presence of Turkish soldiers on the Island and Türkiye's guarantee is a red line on which they will never compromise.
President Tatar stated that the TRNC wants to form “closer relations” with Germany.