Celebrating the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Student cortege and visit to the Presidency

More than 2,200 students from numerous schools and universities of Lefkoşa took part in the “41st Anniversary Republic Cortege” that ended with a visit to the Presidency where they were addressed by President Ersin Tatar during a ceremony held in celebration of the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of the TRNC.

Also participating in the cortege were Yasin Ekrem Serim, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Lefkoşa, National Education and Culture Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Health Hakan Dinçyürek, Minister of Economy and Energy Olgun Amcaoğlu as well as other officials and bureaucrats.

Students held 100m sized flags of the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC, with photograph images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as well as Founding President Rauf Denktaş and Turkish Cypriot Leader, Dr. Fazıl Küçük who lead the Turkish Cypriot People in their struggle for freedom.

The cortege started from the Ministry of National Education, and followed the route to the Military Offices, Girne Gate, Law Courts and finished at the Presidency.

President Ersin Tatar welcomed the students at the Presidency as a Military Band played military anthems.

Abdullah Arin Gül, a student at 9 Eylül Primary School, read the poem “Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, Yusuf Damlar, a student at Turkish Maarif College, read the poem “15 November” and Abdullah Karaduman, a student at Osman Örek Vocational High School, read the poem “Freedom Song”.   Minister Çavuşoğlu also addressed the students.

President Tatar addressed the students by expressing his sincere thanks to them for paying a visit to the Presidency, as part of the celebrations of the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of the TRNC.

“You are the future of the TRNC, you are a shining light for our future, prosperity and success, and we are very proud of you,” President Tatar said.

 
“This Republic belongs to all of us”

President Tatar added: “We are the children and grandchildren of People who waged a national struggle for peaceful coexistence and freedom, that has been ongoing on in these lands for centuries. The Turkish Cypriot People have paid a heavy price for their sovereignty and independence. We have a significant number of martyrs and veterans, our people were forced to migrate from these lands. However, we endured everything, never gave up, and we are today celebrating the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of the TRNC. This republic belongs to all of us.”

“There is peace here, there is tranquillity here, there is security here, there is beauty here, there is humanity here, there is a great civilisation here and there are brave hearts here,” President Tatar said, adding:  “You are these brave hearts.  You are the guardians and future of the TRNC, and you will achieve great success in this country in the future."

“I wish to pay tribute to and remember with respect and gratitude all our martyrs and mujahideens, and Dr. Fazıl Küçük, Osman Örek and Founding President Rauf Denktaş . . who led our people in the struggle for freedom,” the President said.

President Tatar emphasised that “To have a State as a People is the greatest virtue, the greatest honour, the greatest dignity in the life of a nation.”

Referring to the words of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Tatar concurred that the “Republic, the apple of the eye, must be guarded forever”, adding that “this very important State belongs to all of us, which has been entrusted to us and it is our greatest wish that you carry this legacy to the future”.

President Tatar ended his speech by referring to the “legacy and vision of Founding President Denktaş – who sacrificed his entire life for the national cause, and proclaimed the TRNC in the Parliament 41 years ago”.

“As the President of this Republic, inspired by Denktaş, I am working arduously for this independent Turkish State, that forms an integral part of the Turkic World. As I stated in my address at the recently held 11th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Bishkek, in the Republic of Kyrgyz, we, the Turkish Cypriot people are an inseparable and unbreakable part of the great Turkish nation and we are representatives of the entire Turkish world as the southernmost Turkish state.”