Tatar addresses nation on November 15 anniversary

President Ersin Tatar has said that the Turkish Cypriot people will never abandon their state, their sovereignty or give up Türkiye’s guarantees and the presence of Turkish troops on the island.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue to move forward on the path of its new vision.

“We are stronger than we were yesterday and we shall be stronger tomorrow,” Tatar said in his speech marking the beginning of celebrations for the 39^th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Celebrations marking the 39^th anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC kicked off on Monday with a 21 gun-salute and a speech by President Ersin Tatar televised live on Bayrak Radio Television Corporation.

President Ersin Tatar in his address to the nation said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was the embodiment of the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ struggle for freedom, sovereignty, and equality.

“The TRNC has been entrusted to us by our martyrs who gave us the opportunity to live an honourable life on this island. Protecting it is our greatest responsibility,” he said.

Tatar said that the struggle to prevent Cyprus from becoming a Greek island, was continuing today.

“Despite the heavy price Turkish Cypriots had to pay, they did not bow down to Greek Cypriot oppression. They protected their dignity and honour to the very end,” he said, adding that the Greek Cypriots’ mentality towards Turkish Cypriots had not changed.

He said that according to this mentality, Turkish Cypriots were a minority and had no rights like political equality and sovereignty.

“But both the Greek Cypriots and the world should know that we as Turkish Cypriots have the same rights as Greek Cypriots on this island. We are not guests. We are the real owners of these lands,” the president said.

Tatar explained how Turkish Cypriots had been expelled from the 1960 Partnership Republic by Greek Cypriots through the force of arms with the aim of uniting the island with Greece.

He added that since 1963, Turkish Cypriots had formed their own governance and administration eventually crowning their struggle with the TRNC in 1983.

Tatar also pointed out that all efforts to reach a federal settlement which had first started in 1968 had ended in failure due to the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent, uncompromising and imposing stance.

“A federal settlement desired by the Greek Cypriots entails the scrapping of the system of guarantees, the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island and the reduction of the Turkish Cypriot people into a minority within a Greek Cypriot controlled state. It is impossible for us to accept any of these,” he said.

Tatar argued that the referendum on the Annan Plan and more recently the collapsed talks in Crans Montana demonstrated that a federal settlement in Cyprus was no longer possible.

“That is why we have tabled our vision for a two-state solution which is fully supported by Ankara,” said the president, adding that he had made it clear that there was no going back for the Turkish Cypriot side on a settlement based on the recognition of its sovereign equality and equal international status.

President Ersin Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side supported a just, lasting and viable settlement on the island and that this was only possible on the basis of a two-state solution.

He drew attention to the latest developments in promoting this policy following the historic call made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the UN General Assembly for the recognition of the TRNC.

“The admittance of the TRNC into the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer is just one of those big and successful steps towards the promotion of our two-state policy,” the president underlined.

Tatar said that the TRNC had become a real state with its democratic institutions despite the unjust embargoes imposed on it.

“The economy, tourism, agriculture, industry, higher education and other sectors are all thriving thanks to the support of motherland Türkiye. The Maraş initiative has also contributed greatly to this country’s economy,” he added.

Tatar also said that the TRNC’s economy will continue to grow stronger as Türkiye continues to support its development.

“We have brighter tomorrows ahead of us. The TRNC will become a shining star in the Eastern Mediterranean. I have no doubt this will happen as long as we preserve our unity and solidarity. While our sincere calls to the Greek Cypriot side continue for the sake of keeping all channels of dialogue open, the Greek Cypriots continue to arm themselves raising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.

Tatar also said that it was out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side and Türkiye to remain idle while the Greek Cypriot side conducted unilateral hydrocarbon activities.

He concluded his speech by stating that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue to grow stronger with the support of motherland Türkiye.

“We are stronger than we were yesterday and we shall be stronger tomorrow,” Tatar said.