President Ersin Tatar has held a virtual meeting with Alper Gezeravcı, the first astronaut of the Republic of Türkiye, who stayed at the International Space Station (ISS) for 18 days and undertook 13 different experiments.

Emphasising that the TRNC followed the successes of Mr. Gezeravcı with great pride, President Tatar noted that he carried out 13 different experiments during his 18-day stay in the ISS that is orbiting the Earth.

The President expressed his gratitude to Mr. Gezeravcı in his own name and the TRNC and congratulated him for his successes in space which has been a “historic moment for all of us”.

Pointing out that doors of a new era “will be opened in the experiments to be carried out in the space in the second century of the Republic of Türkiye founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”, President Tatar said that “with all the possibilities and technology,  Turkish youth will pave the way, take part in new projects, create a stronger economy and a stronger society in the digitalised world”.

“It is my firm conviction that your success will incentivise for more universal studies to be carried out,” President Tatar said.

Stating that he was proud to be speaking with Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravcı on a very memorable day, the 109th anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory on the occasion of March 18 Martyrs' Day,  President Tatar commemorated the martyrs and veterans with respect and gratitude adding "may they rest in eternal peace".

President Tatar pointed out that the Republic of Türkiye “continues to stand by the Turkish Cypriot People and the peaceful coexistence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” adding that the Turkish Armed Forces ensures security on land, at sea and in the air.

The President stated that he had been touched by the images shared by Mr Gezeravcı of the Island of Cyprus which he had taken from the ISS. “These images made us proud as we saw Cyprus and Motherland Türkiye, from the your photograph, a photograph of the first Turkish astronaut in space,” he said.

Stating that the studies on space and the successes of Motherland Türkiye give hope to young people,  President Tatar stated: “Your successes have also been welcomed and saluted by the Turkic world. . . space  experiments are paving the way for far greater projects. I hope we will also be able to take part in these big projects to be conducted by Türkiye in the future.”

President Tatar expressed his hope for future generations of Turkiye and the TRNC to have a clear path to be able to develop in the field of space exploration.

Alper Gezeravcı stated that he “hopes that the path that the two countries walk together will also be together in space as well".