KKTC President Tatar:

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar, who came to Sakarya to attend a conference and visited the Sakarya Governorship and Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality beforehand, stated, ‘By exercising the guarantee right of the Republic of Turkey and intervening in Cyprus, it saved its kinsmen from a great massacre and ensured that the peace brought to Cyprus has been continuing for 50 years without anyone getting hurt.’ TRNC President Ersin Tatar, who came to Sakarya to attend a conference on ‘Lessons to be Learned from the May 27th Coup and the Cyprus Peace Operation,’ visited the Sakarya Governorship, the Turkey Combatant Veterans Association Sakarya Branch, and the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality before the program. Speaking with Governor Yaşar Karadeniz, association president Erol Demir, and Mayor Yusuf Alemdar, President Tatar mentioned that he came to Sakarya on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and conducted visits there. President Ersin Tatar expressed gratitude to the veterans, stating that they are grateful to everyone who fought in the operation in Cyprus.
Sakarya is a fraternity geography where 72 cultures live together. Meeting with TRNC President Ersin Tatar, Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yusuf Alemdar expressed, ‘I would like to once again express our honor to host you. Despite experiencing earthquakes, being destroyed every 30 years, Sakarya, with its dynamic human structure and natural beauties, is the pearl of the Marmara region where all ethnic groups in Turkey and 72 cultures live together in fraternity. Welcome to Sakarya, which our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called ‘the city where I find peace.’ We hope that you will leave Sakarya peacefully with your visit. We are honored to be with you.’
Speaking during the metropolitan visit, TRNC President Ersin Tatar said, ‘I am delighted to visit Sakarya. I bring love, respect, and regards from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to all of you. We are on the eve of a significant celebration. We have already started preparations for the 50th anniversary of the Happy Cyprus Peace Operation on July 20, 2024, which marks the 1974 Peace Operation. We visited the Cyprus veterans a while ago and made some evaluations there, expressing my gratitude to them. Fifty years ago, by exercising the guarantee right of the Republic of Turkey and intervening in Cyprus, it saved its kinsmen from a great massacre and ensured that the peace brought to Cyprus has been continuing for 50 years without anyone getting hurt. In the Eastern Mediterranean, there is a Turkish state where all our national interests and national activities are carried out both in the Blue Homeland and in the airspace. The importance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is increasing. It has geopolitical and geostrategic developments, and now the Eastern Mediterranean is a very important region for Turkey. Because, as we always say, from Iskenderun to the Aegean Sea, there is a coastline of more than two thousand kilometers, and therefore the security of Turkey there is very important both in the Blue Homeland and in the airspace. Therefore, we continue to work together for the strengthening of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.’
‘The successes here are really important for the future and independence of Turkey.’ President Tatar said, ‘The Republic of Turkey founded by the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has completed its centenary. As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan beautifully expressed, in the new century of present-day Turkey, we need to work with excitement to achieve success and we need to be determined and enthusiastic as a nation to be stronger. As I see in Sakarya today, despite the earthquake disasters experienced here, it is immediately restored, and both economically and commercially, efforts are made to increase the welfare of this region where 72 different cultures merge, which is a beautiful geography for the future and independence of Turkey. I would like to express my great happiness to be here again with all the people of Sakarya and for the warm welcome. I would like to thank you very much for this beautiful and sincere welcome. I think such visits are extremely meaningful for the development of mutual relations. Because, as the President, we visit these places. Our contacts, our affections, our evaluations here are now immediately distributed to the press, to the people, to Cyprus, everywhere, and contribute to the strengthening of our ancient and important connections. Therefore, my biggest wish and hope are for the bonds between Sakarya, this distinguished region, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to strengthen in all aspects, including trade, education, tourism, and more.’
‘Many people have served their military duty in Cyprus.’ President Tatar, stating that relations between Turkey and Cyprus will further improve, said, ‘Over the years, 50 years after 1974, I see that many people have certainly served their military duty in Cyprus. Many of our youth have received education in Cyprus. After graduating from the universities in Cyprus, they continue their lives as honorary ambassadors in a way. Similarly, commercial and economic organizations. Over the years, investments made in Cyprus or now our business people who are beginning to become capital owners in Cyprus investing here or facilitating joint projects. All of these are integration, solidarity, and unity, and since strength will arise from unity, such contacts and affections will surely lead to good results. Because when I look into your eyes and see that sparkle, I see your sincerity towards us.’