President of the TRNC Ersin Tatar: “We continue to see a stronger TRNC with the support of Turkey.”

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, stated, “With Turkey’s support, we continue to see a stronger Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together.”

A reception was held in Istanbul for the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. Attendees included Ersin Tatar, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Commander of the 1st Army General Ali Sivri, the Consul General of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Istanbul, Fatma Demirel, Istanbul Deputy Governor Cengiz Karabulut, President of the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association Istanbul Branch Zehra Bilge Eray, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, municipal mayors, and representatives of civil society organizations.

In his speech, Ersin Tatar emphasized, “On July 15, 1974, as Greece’s junta collaborated with elements in Cyprus to overthrow Makarios and aimed to annex Cyprus to Greece, the Turkish government decided to intervene by exercising its guarantorship rights on the morning of July 20, a Saturday, to prevent the complete cleansing and genocide of the Turkish Cypriot people. With the resolute stance of the late Bülent Ecevit and his deputy Necmettin Erbakan, our soldiers intervened in Cyprus through a three-pronged operation from land, air, and sea, writing another epic alongside our fighters. Thanks to this epic, peace, tranquility, and security have been established in Cyprus, allowing the Turkish Cypriot people to truly own an independent Turkish State in the Eastern Mediterranean. Our successes and our ability to look to the future with hope are shaped by those achievements. Istanbul has a significant role in all these victories because Istanbul is a center. There has always been a connection between Istanbul and Cyprus.”

Stating that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is stronger with Turkey’s support, Tatar noted, “You can reach Ercan Airport from here in one hour and 15 minutes. Now, with the new airport and increasing flights from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, there are sometimes more than 10 flights a day to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The ties between Istanbul and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are strengthening. Thus, through strengthening our social, economic, and cultural ties, we continue to see a stronger Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together with Turkey, especially Istanbul. In 1974, when our soldiers landed on the island, the Republic of Turkey decided to intervene, stating, ‘We are going to Cyprus to protect the life and property security of our compatriots.’ 50 years later, developments have occurred that make us glad that operation took place, and today, with the extraordinary strategic significance of the Eastern Mediterranean, its energy resources, security issues, blue homeland, and airspace, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is gaining value as a national state every day. It is fitting that we continue our presence there in a way that honors our national and traditional values alongside Turkey, both in the air and at sea, and in every historical aspect. We are filled with happiness and pride in having achieved this together.”