The President of the TRNC, Tatar, and the Minister of Justice, Tunç, met with Cypriot veterans and relatives of martyrs.

The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar, and the Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, met with Cyprus veterans and families of martyrs in Bartın during a program held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

President Tatar expressed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Cyprus a month ago with a large delegation and the messages he conveyed in his speech brought hope to the hearts of the Cypriot people. He stated that discussions about “Turkey withdrawing, and the end of its guarantorship” are now behind us and have been shown to the whole world. Minister of Justice Tunç, in his speech, emphasized that gaining observer member status in the Organization of Turkic States and the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States is an important step and that efforts will continue for the recognition of the TRNC as an independent and sovereign state.

Tatar and Tunç also attended a honor dinner held in Bartın to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are making sincere efforts to reach a fair and lasting solution on the island and will continue to do so. He noted that the parties in the Eastern Mediterranean are stubbornly obstructing the process by refusing to resolve the issue based on equality. Tunç remarked, “However, everyone should know that the Turkish Cypriot people are the original and founding element of the island. As our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated, the vision of a two-state solution is very valuable. A solution on the island is only possible if all the rights of the Turkish Cypriot side are recognized and if they sit at the negotiating table equally with the Greek Cypriot side in all areas. As Turkey, we are determined to protect both our rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as those of the Turkish Cypriots. Because we do not think of the peace and prosperity of two friendly and brotherly countries separately.”

“The solution in Cyprus lies in the further strengthening of the TRNC”

Tunç indicated that the solution in Cyprus depends on the political, economic, and social strengthening of the TRNC and stressed that the international recognition of the TRNC as an equal and sovereign state is of utmost importance. He emphasized that, as highlighted in the resolution titled ’50th Anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation’ accepted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey last month, the North Cyprus Turkish State must take its rightful place as an independent and equal sovereign member of the international community and this cannot be delayed any longer. In this context, he stated that gaining observer member status in the Organization of Turkic States and the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States is a significant step for the TRNC, which is an inseparable part of the Turkish world. “Our aim is to continue this process with further steps that include the recognition of Northern Cyprus as an independent sovereign state.

To take these steps, we will continue our initiatives under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for the welfare and peace of our Cypriot brothers. The Cyprus cause is a great cause that has deep roots and is like a grand tree whose shade covers everywhere. This cause has been reached not by someone’s grace, but through sacrifices by a great nation. This cause is the cause of the Turkish nation, the cause of our martyrs, and the cause of our veterans. Turkey will continue to be the greatest supporter of the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriots and will never leave them alone,” he stated.

“Turkey’s stance on Palestine is also clear”

Tunç also noted that Turkey will continue to stand by the Palestinians who are suffering genocide and emphasized that the Israeli leaders cannot escape accountability. He stated, “Just as we stand by the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriots, Turkey’s stance and position on Palestine is also clear. The Israeli leaders who commit crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza will not be able to escape accountability before international law, just as they cannot before humanity’s conscience. We believe that Palestine will definitely be free one day. Even if everyone stays silent, we will continue to defend the truth, justice, and rights.”

Turkey-TRNC cooperation continues

Tunç stated that the good relations between Turkey and the TRNC have developed further through the cooperation realized and emphasized that the judicial cooperation is part of the commendable good relations with the TRNC. He expressed satisfaction that the requests within the framework of our ongoing judicial cooperation, which continues based on mutual understanding, goodwill, and courtesy, have been successfully fulfilled and that we are closely cooperating in this regard. “We are making every effort to ensure that there is no deficiency in judicial cooperation. After mutual assessments of needs there, a delegation we sent conducted the necessary discussions and ensured coordination. We will continue to provide this,” he added.

“We are closely following the case regarding the 35 Cypriot athletes who died in the earthquake”

Yılmaz Tunç recalled that the judicial process regarding the deaths of 35 TRNC athletes who lost their lives in a collapsed hotel in Adıyaman during the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, is ongoing, and stated that they are closely monitoring this judicial process.

Tunç said, “We lost our champion angels in Adıyaman during the earthquake, and we experienced great pain. Out of 65 people, 35 were our champion angels from Northern Cyprus. There is currently an ongoing trial process. We are closely following this trial process. Those responsible will certainly be punished as they deserve. No one, especially the families of our champion angels, should have any doubts about this. We are closely following the case.”

“He brought hope to the hearts of the Cypriot people”

TRNC President Ersin Tatar thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for attending the events held in Cyprus for the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation with a large delegation.

He emphasized that Erdoğan’s visit and the messages he conveyed in his speech brought hope to the hearts of the Cypriot people, stating, “Our President has once again indicated to the whole world that the Turkish Cypriot people are not alone and that the government of the Motherland Turkey will continue to stand by the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriot people. Discussions about Turkey’s withdrawal from the island as it is not a member of the European Union and the end of its guarantorship, which has gone out of fashion, are now behind us. In other words, in the national politics regarding Cyprus, we can discuss this issue with goodwill again in the national community for a two-state solution, but a negotiation process can only be resumed with the confirmation of our sovereign equality and national will. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on behalf of the Republic of Turkey, shared this with us on July 20 and brought hope to our hearts.”

“The TRNC is the window of Turkish states to the Mediterranean”

Tatar stated that the strategic and political importance of the Mediterranean and the TRNC has further increased with the developments in the last 50 years and expressed that the Cypriot people gained independence, freedom, and liberty through Turkey’s intervention on July 20, 1974, and that the current situation demonstrates that Cyprus is not the same Cyprus as before, and the Mediterranean is no longer the same Mediterranean. He pointed out that various world countries have made Southern Cyprus a logistics base to gain geopolitical advantages and that the Republic of Turkey, as the guarantor country, will not remain a bystander in this regard. He added that the status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has become even more important in light of all these developments, and thus, along with the Republic of Turkey, the TRNC has reached a very significant point for our national unity and national interests in both the Blue Homeland and the airspace.

He further stated, “Our presence in the Mediterranean, the global recognition of the TRNC, and the development of important relations with all Turkish states is essentially the window of the entire Turkish world to the Mediterranean. It is a guardian of the border. It is a borderland. In this sense, the development of the whole Turkish world, the strengthening of Turkish unity, and the TRNC as a member of the Turkish Union maintaining its existence as a fortress in the Eastern Mediterranean is our common wish. The Republic of Turkey is undoubtedly the homeland of all of them. It is certain. Thank goodness for the existence of the Republic of Turkey. Our hope is that other Turkish states will also grow stronger and that the Turkish Union can provide greater services to all of us and the Turkish world in economic and political terms, so that we can continue our lives and struggles against the opposition of the other world with our heads held high and with dignity.”

The program, which was attended by AK Party Bartın Deputy Yusuf Ziya Aldatmaz, AK Party Karabük Deputy Dursun Ali Keskinkılıç, CHP Bartın Deputy Aysu Bankoğlu, Bartın Mayor Rıza Yalçınkaya, representatives from political parties and civil society organizations, as well as veterans and families of martyrs, continued with prayers. The meeting concluded after the meal was served.