President Ersin Tatar: “Cyprus will always be part of the Turkish world. Cyprus is an important value”
President Ersin Tatar, who addressed students during the conference on “The History of the Turkish Cypriot Struggle and Recent Developments in Cyprus” at the European University of Lefke-Faculty of Law Conference Hall, highlighted that Cyprus will always be part of the Turkish world as an important value.
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Drawing attention to the historical importance of Lefke in terms of being one of the first places where the Ottomans settled, President Tatar extended his thanks to everyone who has served for Lefke to date.
President Tatar continued his words as follows;
“Cyprus island has a long history where the Turkish Cypriot people encountered pain and became victims of genocides and numerous martyrs were given. Cyprus has been an island, where different Turkic peoples have lived. The island is the gem with its strategic and economic value”.
Noting that Turkish Cypriots are open to dialogue and are in favour of a treaty in Cyprus, President Tatar highlighted the necessity of continuation of our sovereign equality in doing so. “There is a Turkish State in the North in Cyprus, and the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo must accept this fact,” said the President. “The Turkish Cypriot people have their own sovereignty and the right of self-governing on these territories. We were expelled from the Republic of Cyprus by force of arms. The Turkish Cypriot people have paid a great price. If we have a State today, there is a great struggle behind it. Our people have resisted all attacks. Our people have established a State with their life and blood.”
“We continue on our way with the full support of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said. “This is the cornerstone of our national security. Those who govern the TRNC should have good relations with those who govern the Republic of Türkiye. Cyprus will always be in the life of the Turkish world. Cyprus is an important value.”
Instead of a culture of conflict, there should be a culture of compromise, the President noted. He stated that the new policy in Cyprus suggests an agreement with the cooperation of two separate States living side by side.
Recalling the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic speech at the 77th UN General Assembly, in which he emphasised that the isolations and embargoes against the Turkish Cypriots should be lifted and that all this has turned into a persecution in the context of human rights, President Ersin Tatar further reminded, in Samarkand, the observer membership of our state, with its constitutional name, was accepted at the Organization of Turkish States meeting. "The fact that we exist as a State is gradually being accepted by the whole world,” he said.
“The failure to fulfil the promises and the continuation of the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people is a shame in the name of humanity”
When asked a question about the Annan Plan, President Tatar stated the following:
“During the time of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, this was a plan that emerged as a result of the world states pushing for an agreement in Cyprus. The deficiency in the Annan Plan is the issue of sovereignty. In my opinion, the State in the North must have as much sovereignty as of our current sovereign rights. If both sides said yes in the Annan Plan, the republic to be established would have become a full member of the EU. Being a member of the EU, which excludes the Republic of Türkiye as a non-member, would lead us to many dangerous conditions”.
Emphasising the significance of the Republic of Türkiye being the guarantor of the Turkish Cypriots at all times, President Tatar noted that the presence of Turkish soldiers on the island is of vital importance for the Turkish Cypriots in terms of security.
Pointing to the dangers the Annan Plan contained, the President explained these as the exclusion of the Republic of Türkiye from the island and the significant problems in terms of property issue.
President Tatar reminded that despite these dangers in the Annan Plan, the Turkish Cypriot people said yes by making great sacrifices, and pointed out that although the other side said no, they were made a member of the EU, but the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots was not put to an end despite the promises made. "The fact that promises are not kept and the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people continue is a shame in the name of humanity," the President underlined.
Regarding a question on relations with Russia and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's statement where he cited the TRNC as an example, President Tatar mentioned that they are seeking ways to strengthen the politics over time, adding that Lavrov's statement also empowered their hand.
Reiterating the importance of the TRNC, as the southernmost representative of the Turkish world, in terms of the protection of national interests and the necessity of maintaining national elements, President Tatar said, “No one has the right to lure us into a federal framework where the majority will rule the minority, with short-term economic promises, and to sever cultural, political and economic ties with Türkiye.” The ties between Turkish Cypriots and the Republic of Türkiye are maintained through national agreements, he added.
President Tatar continued his words as follows;
“Cyprus island has a long history where the Turkish Cypriot people encountered pain and became victims of genocides and numerous martyrs were given. Cyprus has been an island, where different Turkic peoples have lived. The island is the gem with its strategic and economic value”.
Noting that Turkish Cypriots are open to dialogue and are in favour of a treaty in Cyprus, President Tatar highlighted the necessity of continuation of our sovereign equality in doing so. “There is a Turkish State in the North in Cyprus, and the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo must accept this fact,” said the President. “The Turkish Cypriot people have their own sovereignty and the right of self-governing on these territories. We were expelled from the Republic of Cyprus by force of arms. The Turkish Cypriot people have paid a great price. If we have a State today, there is a great struggle behind it. Our people have resisted all attacks. Our people have established a State with their life and blood.”
“We continue on our way with the full support of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said. “This is the cornerstone of our national security. Those who govern the TRNC should have good relations with those who govern the Republic of Türkiye. Cyprus will always be in the life of the Turkish world. Cyprus is an important value.”
Instead of a culture of conflict, there should be a culture of compromise, the President noted. He stated that the new policy in Cyprus suggests an agreement with the cooperation of two separate States living side by side.
Recalling the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic speech at the 77th UN General Assembly, in which he emphasised that the isolations and embargoes against the Turkish Cypriots should be lifted and that all this has turned into a persecution in the context of human rights, President Ersin Tatar further reminded, in Samarkand, the observer membership of our state, with its constitutional name, was accepted at the Organization of Turkish States meeting. "The fact that we exist as a State is gradually being accepted by the whole world,” he said.
“The failure to fulfil the promises and the continuation of the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people is a shame in the name of humanity”
When asked a question about the Annan Plan, President Tatar stated the following:
“During the time of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, this was a plan that emerged as a result of the world states pushing for an agreement in Cyprus. The deficiency in the Annan Plan is the issue of sovereignty. In my opinion, the State in the North must have as much sovereignty as of our current sovereign rights. If both sides said yes in the Annan Plan, the republic to be established would have become a full member of the EU. Being a member of the EU, which excludes the Republic of Türkiye as a non-member, would lead us to many dangerous conditions”.
Emphasising the significance of the Republic of Türkiye being the guarantor of the Turkish Cypriots at all times, President Tatar noted that the presence of Turkish soldiers on the island is of vital importance for the Turkish Cypriots in terms of security.
Pointing to the dangers the Annan Plan contained, the President explained these as the exclusion of the Republic of Türkiye from the island and the significant problems in terms of property issue.
President Tatar reminded that despite these dangers in the Annan Plan, the Turkish Cypriot people said yes by making great sacrifices, and pointed out that although the other side said no, they were made a member of the EU, but the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots was not put to an end despite the promises made. "The fact that promises are not kept and the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people continue is a shame in the name of humanity," the President underlined.
Regarding a question on relations with Russia and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's statement where he cited the TRNC as an example, President Tatar mentioned that they are seeking ways to strengthen the politics over time, adding that Lavrov's statement also empowered their hand.
Reiterating the importance of the TRNC, as the southernmost representative of the Turkish world, in terms of the protection of national interests and the necessity of maintaining national elements, President Tatar said, “No one has the right to lure us into a federal framework where the majority will rule the minority, with short-term economic promises, and to sever cultural, political and economic ties with Türkiye.” The ties between Turkish Cypriots and the Republic of Türkiye are maintained through national agreements, he added.