President Ersin Tatar receives Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay
President Ersin Tatar receives Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay
Photos
President Ersin Tatar received the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay, where discussions were held with regards to the Cyprus issue and Türkiye's political and economic support to the TRNC.
President Tatar emphasised that “we shall continue to shout out our policies with the support of the Republic of Türkiye. We have always been together, in solidarity and this will continue forever".
Expressing his sorrow for the loss of 49 TRNC citizens and tens of thousands of people who had died due to the devastating earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, President Tatar said: “May those who lost their lives rest in eternal peace. I once again wish patience to the loved ones and families of those who have passed, and a speedy recovery to the injured.”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the “arduous work” being carried out in order to wrap up the wounds inflicted by the earthquakes and for starting the work to rebuild for the future, which he said is taking place under the leadership of Republic of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vice President Fuat Oktay.
“The earthquakes have resulted in unprecedented catastrophe, seen once in a lifetime,” the President said. “I visited the earthquake hit regions. I saw the magnitude of the damages and the hard work by search and rescue teams. I once again extend my gratitude to the emergency units and to the public, who are working to clear the rubble.”
President Tatar thanked the Civil Defence Organisation, Security Forces Command, fire brigade, municipality teams and volunteers who devotedly and tirelessly worked on, trying to search and rescue people including 49 TRNC citizens from the rubble of the Isias hotel in Adıyaman, of which half were school children of the Türk Maarif College volleyball team. President Tatar explained that all had died in the earthquake, and that all had been found and repatriated to the TRNC for burial.
“We witnessed the real meaning of unity and solidarity at the earthquake hit regions,” the President said, adding: “Everyone was mobilised. Our Security Forces Command teams are still working in Antakya."
President Tatar stated that during this period of great sorrow he has been in telephone contact with President Erdoğan and Vice President Oktay. “I wish to thank the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu, for putting forward an extra-ordinary effort that allowed us to dispatch our emergency units to assist in search and rescue operations in Adıyaman,” the President said.
Stating that a “crisis committee” had been immediately formed under the auspices of the Presidency, President Tatar said: “A lot of hard work and planning and coordination was put into implementation. Now, we are anxiously following the developments in the legal process in relation to Isias hotel. The families who lost their loved ones are very anxious for justice to be served and for the legal process to be conducted in the best way.”
Referring to the TRNC-TC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - Republic of Türkiye] 2023 Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol, President Tatar thanked the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Fuat Oktay for “being instrumental in signing this protocol for the future of the country”. Pointing to Mr. Oktay's efforts to “develop the structure of the TRNC,” President Tatar said: “I wish for this protocol to be one of benefit and prosperity for the TRNC.”
“May our relations deepen with the Organisation of Turkic States and new doors be opened for the Turkish Cypriot People”
Referring to his recent visit to London, President Tatar said: “Our visit to London has once again showed that any settlement in Cyprus needs to be based on the inherent sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People. The other side have demonstrated once again their mentality, which is that they wish to silence us and they cannot even tolerate our right to speak . We will continue to put forward our new two State policy with the support of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
Evaluating the admission of the TRNC to the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer member with its constitutional name, the President said “this development is a huge success”.
President Tatar continued: “I had the opportunity to discuss the Cyprus issue with the heads of state of other Turkic States in Ankara at the summit held on March 16, 2023. I have conveyed to them the realities of the island of Cyprus and the injustices facing Turkish Cypriot People, who are located in the eastern Mediterranean that is of geostrategic importance, and who are a part of the Turkic world.”
“Our wish is for our relations, as Turkish Cypriot People, to be deepened with the Organisation of Turkic States, and for new doors to be opened for the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
Turkish Vice President Oktay: “A very strict judicial investigation is being conducted”
Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay, stated that he made his first visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after the February 6 earthquakes. He said more than 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Türkiye as well as 49 TRNC citizens had lost their lives in the devastating earthquakes.
Mr. Oktay stated that the acute earthquake period of the earthquake was left behind in the first three weeks of the occurrence of the natural disaster, and that they had provided temporary accommodation at specially set up centres to three million people.
Mr. Oktay also explained that they were swiftly carrying out works, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to complete 319,000 buildings that will be much stronger, with the aim of handing the buildings to the earthquake victims within a year.
"We have commenced intensive work to create a Türkiye that is resistant to risks,” Mr. Oktay said.
“Our hearts are broken”
Wishing those TRNC citizens who lost their lives to rest in eternal peace and patience to their families and loved ones, Mr. Oktay stated that “our hearts are broken, we are in deep sorrow at the loss of life. I have brought to you the message of condolences from President Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan”.
Stating that he visited the graves of the “champion angels” who lost their lives in the rubble of the Isias Hotel in Adıyaman following the earthquake, Vice President Oktay said he had met with their families and emphasised that the Republic of Türkiye is ready to give “all kinds of support to the families”.
Reiterating that “many people have been lost in these earthquakes,” Mr. Oktay stated: “A very rigorous criminal investigation is being carried out with regards to establishing who are responsible for any of the flawed buildings. There are currently close to 1,600 suspects and 350 of them have been arrested and four of them are related to Isias hotel. "We are following all of these cases very closely.”
Mr. Oktay stated that 3.3 million people had emigrated due to the earthquake. He said they had also encouraged this so that they could carry out work in relation to the earthquake with more ease. He said about one million people had already began to return to the region, adding he had also visited some of the earthquake victims who are in the TRNC, and that the Republic of Türkiye is ready to support them in every way.
Vice President Oktay also condemned the protest of Greek-Greek Cypriot students against President Tatar in London. “This incident has once again shown how essential it is to have an equal, sovereign TRNC,” he said.
Mr. Oktay added: “This incident is a clear indication of how indigestible the Greek Cypriots are, that they do not want a solution, and cannot even tolerate freedom of expression . . . Forget talking about a solution at the table. As Türkiye, we see this event as an indication of how essential it is to recognise and to have recognised the sovereign Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with equal and international status.”
He said the Republic of Türkiye will “continue to stand by the TRNC forever,” and added that the 2023 protocol has been signed and that work will be carried out in accordance with its provisions
President Tatar emphasised that “we shall continue to shout out our policies with the support of the Republic of Türkiye. We have always been together, in solidarity and this will continue forever".
Expressing his sorrow for the loss of 49 TRNC citizens and tens of thousands of people who had died due to the devastating earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, President Tatar said: “May those who lost their lives rest in eternal peace. I once again wish patience to the loved ones and families of those who have passed, and a speedy recovery to the injured.”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the “arduous work” being carried out in order to wrap up the wounds inflicted by the earthquakes and for starting the work to rebuild for the future, which he said is taking place under the leadership of Republic of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vice President Fuat Oktay.
“The earthquakes have resulted in unprecedented catastrophe, seen once in a lifetime,” the President said. “I visited the earthquake hit regions. I saw the magnitude of the damages and the hard work by search and rescue teams. I once again extend my gratitude to the emergency units and to the public, who are working to clear the rubble.”
President Tatar thanked the Civil Defence Organisation, Security Forces Command, fire brigade, municipality teams and volunteers who devotedly and tirelessly worked on, trying to search and rescue people including 49 TRNC citizens from the rubble of the Isias hotel in Adıyaman, of which half were school children of the Türk Maarif College volleyball team. President Tatar explained that all had died in the earthquake, and that all had been found and repatriated to the TRNC for burial.
“We witnessed the real meaning of unity and solidarity at the earthquake hit regions,” the President said, adding: “Everyone was mobilised. Our Security Forces Command teams are still working in Antakya."
President Tatar stated that during this period of great sorrow he has been in telephone contact with President Erdoğan and Vice President Oktay. “I wish to thank the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu, for putting forward an extra-ordinary effort that allowed us to dispatch our emergency units to assist in search and rescue operations in Adıyaman,” the President said.
Stating that a “crisis committee” had been immediately formed under the auspices of the Presidency, President Tatar said: “A lot of hard work and planning and coordination was put into implementation. Now, we are anxiously following the developments in the legal process in relation to Isias hotel. The families who lost their loved ones are very anxious for justice to be served and for the legal process to be conducted in the best way.”
Referring to the TRNC-TC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - Republic of Türkiye] 2023 Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol, President Tatar thanked the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Fuat Oktay for “being instrumental in signing this protocol for the future of the country”. Pointing to Mr. Oktay's efforts to “develop the structure of the TRNC,” President Tatar said: “I wish for this protocol to be one of benefit and prosperity for the TRNC.”
“May our relations deepen with the Organisation of Turkic States and new doors be opened for the Turkish Cypriot People”
Referring to his recent visit to London, President Tatar said: “Our visit to London has once again showed that any settlement in Cyprus needs to be based on the inherent sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People. The other side have demonstrated once again their mentality, which is that they wish to silence us and they cannot even tolerate our right to speak . We will continue to put forward our new two State policy with the support of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
Evaluating the admission of the TRNC to the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer member with its constitutional name, the President said “this development is a huge success”.
President Tatar continued: “I had the opportunity to discuss the Cyprus issue with the heads of state of other Turkic States in Ankara at the summit held on March 16, 2023. I have conveyed to them the realities of the island of Cyprus and the injustices facing Turkish Cypriot People, who are located in the eastern Mediterranean that is of geostrategic importance, and who are a part of the Turkic world.”
“Our wish is for our relations, as Turkish Cypriot People, to be deepened with the Organisation of Turkic States, and for new doors to be opened for the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
Turkish Vice President Oktay: “A very strict judicial investigation is being conducted”
Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay, stated that he made his first visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after the February 6 earthquakes. He said more than 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Türkiye as well as 49 TRNC citizens had lost their lives in the devastating earthquakes.
Mr. Oktay stated that the acute earthquake period of the earthquake was left behind in the first three weeks of the occurrence of the natural disaster, and that they had provided temporary accommodation at specially set up centres to three million people.
Mr. Oktay also explained that they were swiftly carrying out works, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to complete 319,000 buildings that will be much stronger, with the aim of handing the buildings to the earthquake victims within a year.
"We have commenced intensive work to create a Türkiye that is resistant to risks,” Mr. Oktay said.
“Our hearts are broken”
Wishing those TRNC citizens who lost their lives to rest in eternal peace and patience to their families and loved ones, Mr. Oktay stated that “our hearts are broken, we are in deep sorrow at the loss of life. I have brought to you the message of condolences from President Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan”.
Stating that he visited the graves of the “champion angels” who lost their lives in the rubble of the Isias Hotel in Adıyaman following the earthquake, Vice President Oktay said he had met with their families and emphasised that the Republic of Türkiye is ready to give “all kinds of support to the families”.
Reiterating that “many people have been lost in these earthquakes,” Mr. Oktay stated: “A very rigorous criminal investigation is being carried out with regards to establishing who are responsible for any of the flawed buildings. There are currently close to 1,600 suspects and 350 of them have been arrested and four of them are related to Isias hotel. "We are following all of these cases very closely.”
Mr. Oktay stated that 3.3 million people had emigrated due to the earthquake. He said they had also encouraged this so that they could carry out work in relation to the earthquake with more ease. He said about one million people had already began to return to the region, adding he had also visited some of the earthquake victims who are in the TRNC, and that the Republic of Türkiye is ready to support them in every way.
Vice President Oktay also condemned the protest of Greek-Greek Cypriot students against President Tatar in London. “This incident has once again shown how essential it is to have an equal, sovereign TRNC,” he said.
Mr. Oktay added: “This incident is a clear indication of how indigestible the Greek Cypriots are, that they do not want a solution, and cannot even tolerate freedom of expression . . . Forget talking about a solution at the table. As Türkiye, we see this event as an indication of how essential it is to recognise and to have recognised the sovereign Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with equal and international status.”
He said the Republic of Türkiye will “continue to stand by the TRNC forever,” and added that the 2023 protocol has been signed and that work will be carried out in accordance with its provisions