President Ersin Tatar addressed the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit organised by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation in Istanbul.
The event, held at the Wow Hotel and Convention Centre,  has brought together many  heads of state, politicians, academics and diplomats from different countries, and has been held under the slogan ‘End  Distrust, Begin  Cooperation’.

President Tatar paid tribute to the Foundation for hosting such an important summit that is aimed at enhancing cooperation between States and Peoples, and said: “What distinguishes me from many other speakers, is that I am the President of a State that is not internationally recognised, and I quiet often face restrictions which prevent me from being able to talk at international events or even participating in meetings. This is a major injustice endured by the Turkish Cypriot People who are in fact one of the co-owners of the island of Cyprus.”

President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the members of the Marmara Foundation, who have been organising this summit for 26 years, and pointed out that “this meeting provides an opportunity for those whose voices cannot be heard”.

Referring to the unprecedented earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6 that caused widespread devastation, President Tatar reiterated his condolences to Motherland Türkiye and to the families and people who lost their loved ones.  He said: "As the TRNC, we are also in mourning for the loss of 49 of our citizens – half of whom were children from the volleyball teams of the Gazimağusa Türk Maarif College, their coaches and parents. We share with you this most terrible and severe pain which can never be forgotten.   What has happened is a disaster of the century. May those who died rest in peace, and I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.”

President Tatar stated that “necessary measures” in the TRNC are being taken in accordance with the advice of experts and seismologists, against the possibility that an earthquake could also occur in Cyprus.

Stating that he has held a meeting with the newly elected Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, the President said he has made a proposal for the two Sides in Cyprus to cooperate with regards to earthquake matters.  “Such cooperations are essential and are of benefit to both Sides, in the event that an earthquake occurs. I have put forward the position that such cooperation with regards to earthquake issues can be conducted through joint committees.  There are already other forms of cooperation being continued between the two Sides,” President Tatar said.


“We continue to put forward a policy that favours dialogue”

President Tatar emphasised that there is no common ground between the two Sides which is needed in order to start new formal negotiations that is based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People, adding: “I have always advocated that there is a need for the two Sides to have dialogue and cooperation that will serve sustainable peace and stability in Cyprus and the region.”

Expressing his belief that despite the absence of an agreement between the two equal Sides in Cyprus,  and the fact that persisting in positive relations and dialogue will contribute to the political and economic welfare as well as to the stability of the region, President Tatar said:  “Maintaining the stability with the support of Motherland Türkiye and acknowledging the fact that there are two different Sides and two Peoples in Cyprus, I believe that acting together with regards to continuing the exploration of energy resources and transporting the energy resources via Türkiye to international markets would be beneficial for everybody.”

President Tatar added: "The mentality that reflects a culture of conflict and the approach of acting unilaterally by usurping the rights of the Turkish Cypriot People is not sustainable.”   

Underlining that the Turkish Cypriot people have the inherent right of sovereignty, emanating from history and  the 1960 treaties which established the partnership Republic of Cyprus that has been usurped and transformed by force of arms into a Greek Cypriot State, President Tatar said: “With the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People, which are our inherent rights, we will continue the just struggle to continue living under our own State.”

Referring to the historical call made by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his address at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on September 20, 2022, where he invited the international community to formally recognise the TRNC, President Tatar said: “President Erdoğan made the historical call at the UN General Assembly in New York for the international community to recognise the TRNC. He also made a call for the end of the persecution of the Turkish Cypriot People as well as the unjust isolation that is preventing direct trade and direct flights to and from our country.  If these happen, if the political and economic equilibrium between the two States is secured, and there is equal treatment between the two Sides, then we will open a fresh new page in Cyprus, paving the way to sustainable peace, stability with balance and cooperation in the region.”


“We cannot do anything without the support of Türkiye”

Explaining that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo have an aspiration to unite the island of Cyprus with Greece (Enosis), President Tatar said that the former Greek Cypriot late President, Archbishop Makarios, had publicly stated that they had used the 1960 agreements “as a springboard” for Enosis.

The President added: “In 2004, a UN Comprehensive Settlement (Annan) Plan was put to a separately held simultaneous referenda between the two Sides in Cyprus.  However, despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriot Side voted in favour of the settlement plan by 64 per cent and the Greek Cypriot Side voted against it by 76 per cent,  the Greek Cypriot Side unilaterally acceded to the EU in the name of the whole island, which they are continuing to exploit in the hope that Turkish Cypriots succumb to their demands, and the promises to end our isolation still have not been honoured by the international community. Such is the level of injustice against my People and Türkiye, which is not an EU member state,” President Tatar said.

“Under such circumstances, the only country supporting the TRNC and our wellbeing irrespective of conditions is our Motherland, Türkiye. An attempt is being made to ignore the legitimate rights and interests of Türkiye over Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean region, by excluding her and upsetting the balances in the region, which does not suit the international community,” the President said.

Referring to attempts to break the unjust isolation on the TRNC, the President explained that the Republic was admitted to becoming an observer member of the Organisation of Turkic States in November, 2022.   He said there was ongoing work that is aimed at “opening new doors” for the Turkish Cypriot People, as part of the objective of enabling them to live in prosperity and integrated with the rest of the world, in modern and universal standard of living.

President Tatar concluded his address by stating that “my people have the right to live in freedom, to be independent and to live in prosperity like all other Peoples of the world. Therefore, your support is very important for us in the interests of justice. On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, I express my gratitude to you.  I end my speech with the words of TRNC Founding President Rauf Denktaş: We will never abandon our sovereignty, our independence or our State"