President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said, “The partnership republic is over, the federation has closed, and Turkey is the motherland, the guarantor state. It is the strongest country in this region. Given that Turkey also has a say, a two-state solution is now the only way out here. Because the presence of Turkish soldiers here is of vital importance for us to continue peace, tranquility, and stability. Turkish Cypriots generally think this way.”

President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) made important statements to press members arriving from Istanbul regarding current issues such as the elections to be held on October 19, their successes in foreign policy over the past 5 years, projects they have implemented, their goals, the weapons purchased by the Greek Cypriot Administration from Israel, and Jordan's cessation of halloumi purchases.

Referring to Turkey's importance for the TRNC, Tatar stated, “Turkey has made great sacrifices for the people here to be able to look to the future with hope.”

‘DESPITE EMBARGOES, TOURISTS COME FROM OVER 100 COUNTRIES’

Evaluating the importance of THY and AJET for the TRNC, Tatar said, “They are two important airline companies connecting us to the world. Therefore, I thank all their managers, pilots, flight attendants, and employees. With the newly opened Ercan State Airports terminal, our passenger numbers will increase from 2 million to up to 10 million. In a few years, God willing, we will reach 15 million. We have achieved this, and the support of our Turkey is very important. Despite some embargoes, tourists and students from over 100 countries come here. The TRNC has grown significantly, developed, and we have investments despite the embargoes.”

‘IF IT WERE UP TO THE GREEK CYPRIOTS, THEY WOULD RESTRICT TECHNOLOGY TOO, BUT THEY LACK THE POWER’

President Tatar emphasized that 20 years ago, the number of beds in tourism in the TRNC was 10,000, stating, “Currently, it has risen to 35,000. Thousands of residences have been built. Thousands of investors have come from abroad. Many tourists are coming via the internet. The world has shrunk now. They imposed embargoes on us, but they couldn't cope with technology. If it were up to the Greek Cypriots, they would restrict this technology too, but they lack the power. The internet is communication. Now, a big project by Türk Telekom has started here. God willing, in the near future, the entire island will be covered with a fiber optic network, and the communication network will be further strengthened.”

‘TRNC WILL BE AN INFORMATION ISLAND’

Stating that the TRNC is connected to the whole world via Turkey, Tatar said, “I felt great excitement during the TEKNOFEST days. On May 1-4, 225,000 people visited, which is a very significant number relative to our population; meaning 1 out of every 2 people visited TEKNOFEST. It was also a very good event for the promotion of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. With digital transformation, which is happening, God willing, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will become an information island. Because the environment is suitable for this, we have universities. With some collaborations between universities, the business world, and industrial zones, this place has the potential to become an information island.”

‘SINCE 2010, 75 MILLION CUBIC METERS OF WATER HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE TRNC FROM ANAMUR EVERY YEAR’

President Tatar pointed out that the water brought from Turkey is of great value for the development of agriculture and husbandry, stating, "We called this the 'project of the century' and we succeeded. Of course, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's support in all of this is immense. In 2010, the foundations of the project were laid in Anamur, and a factory was established for the pipes that would withstand the water pressure. With those pipes, we brought this water to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We used suspended pipes; we couldn't lower the pipes to the bottom of the sea as they would burst from the pressure. Therefore, engineers developed such a system that 75 million cubic meters of water have been flowing here every year since 2010, 200 meters below the sea surface, through suspended pipes. The face of this place has changed. With the increasing population and number of tourists, our water reserves had diminished. Indeed, with this water coming from Turkey, both our basic needs are met and it is used in agriculture and animal husbandry." he said.

‘SAYING THERE IS A SECURITY PROBLEM IS NONSENSE’

Tatar, stating that the water made the lands more fertile, said, “Therefore, we have achieved a lot. Don't believe whatever anyone says. Some opposition circles here say, ‘The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognized, nothing with a solution will happen, the people are disappearing, there is a security problem,’ but all of it is nonsense. Essentially, we have created a great work here; there is a success story.”

‘WE CANNOT FORGET MENDERES AND ZORLU’

In his statement, President Tatar commemorated Adnan Menderes and Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, noting the following:

“Here, there truly is an independent Turkish state with its institutions, democracy, infrastructure, superstructure, and modern regulations. In Turkey, we cannot forget Adnan Menderes and Fatin Rüştü Zorlu. These two names helped establish the Turkish Resistance Organization before the 1960 agreement. Through its struggle here, we gained the Turkish Republic's right of unilateral intervention in the 1960 founding agreements. This is very important. Menderes and Zorlu made significant contributions. During the Erenköy battles, the Greek Cypriots attacked despite the 1960 agreement.”

‘TURKISH CYPRIOTS RESISTED’

Türkiye’nin ilk müdahalesini 8 Ağustos 1964’te Erenköy’de yaptığını hatırlatan Tatar, “Halkımız her yerde mücadele ederken dünyanın çeşitli yerlerinden ve Türkiye’den 600’e yakın öğrenci eğitimlerini yarıda bırakıp Erenköy’e çıkmışlar ve orada büyük çatışmalar olmuş. Rumlar yine durmadı, ‘Türkleri nasıl imha ederiz’ düşüncesiyle devam ettiler. Kıbrıs Türkü direndi. İşte Kıbrıs Barış Hareketi en önemli dönüm noktasıdır. 1983 yılında Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın ilan edilmesiyle Kıbrıs Türkünün geleceği, özgürlüğü, egemenliği tesis edilmiştir. Bu tesis öyle bir tesistir ki, kimse geri çeviremez. Burada yaşam vardır, bir halk vardır ve halkın mücadelesi vardır. Buradan sadece 60 kilometre uzaklıkta olan Türkiye Cumhuriyeti vardır. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin de hakkı, hukuku, geçmişi vardır” değerlendirmesinde bulundu.

‘THE PRESENCE OF THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES HERE IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR US’

President Tatar underlined the ‘two-state solution’, stating, “The partnership republic is over, the federation is closed, and Turkey is the motherland, the guarantor state. It is the most powerful country in this region. Therefore, since Turkey, as a guarantor country, also has a say, a two-state solution is now the only way out here. Because for the continuation of peace, tranquility, and stability, in order to maintain all these balances, the state in the north must absolutely be a Turkish state, and the presence of Turkish soldiers, the Turkish Armed Forces, here is of vital importance for us. Turkish Cypriots generally think this way. Therefore, I once again express my gratitude and thanks to my homeland, Turkey, and to the Turkish people for always being by our side.”

‘SOUTHERN CYPRUS HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED IN MATTERS BEYOND ITS SCOPE’

Making a statement regarding the weapons purchased by the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus from Israel, Tatar said, “In my opinion, Southern Cyprus has gotten involved in matters beyond its scope. Because the people on that side are also truly uncomfortable with this relationship. It has made Southern Cyprus a target. Southern Cyprus is a tourist island, ultimately a services sector. In such a dangerous situation, the structure there would be very negatively affected, and there are British bases there. The UK occasionally launches planes from those bases to intervene in the Middle East. In a way, these are all negative things for the peace of Southern Cyprus. After these events, the Greek press writes that America and France own bases. They can use the airports and ports. These things won't end in a day. These people will settle there even more. Cyprus is at a critical point, and both Cyprus's port and airport are very valuable as all kinds of logistics bases. Because they cannot stay on a ship all day from tens of thousands of kilometers away. They looked for such a place and entered. Southern Cyprus was caught in the middle.”

‘IF IT IS DOING THESE AGAINST TURKEY, IT IS MAKING A BIG MISTAKE’

President Tatar also referred to the United Nations (UN) Summit he attended last week, stating, “There, I saw the whole world’s hatred towards Israel. I even saw the Americans’ hatred. But America is providing support from behind, and massacres continue in Gaza. The world is so cruel, but ultimately, as Southern Cyprus, who are you dancing with? If, as Southern Cyprus, you have entered into such relations with Israel, where will this take you? How will your relations with other states develop, how will you account for this? But if it is doing all these against Turkey, it is making a big mistake. Because these states have no problem with Turkey, I don’t believe they do. In other words, these states are after gaining a logistics base here due to their proximity to the Middle East, to Gaza. I think they will have quarrels with Turkey. Why would they risk this? The damage from this would be very great for everyone.”

‘SOUTHERN CYPRUS HAS MADE MANY MISTAKES ON THIS ISSUE’

President Tatar stated, “Therefore, I believe Southern Cyprus has made many mistakes on this issue. We do not have such an aim. In the north, in consultation with the Republic of Turkey, for the continuation of our peace here, the Turkish Armed Forces are, of course, our sole supporter, and our own mujahideen protect the peace and security there. I want to express this once again here. This is a very safe place.”

‘THIS RHETORIC IS SHAMEFUL, UNFAIR’

Stating that the Republic of Turkey has all kinds of equipment, Tatar said, “Turkey has UAVs, SIHAs, and planes when needed. Therefore, no one should speak differently. Because the opposition circles here say that we do not have a safe life here with phrases like ‘Turkey's backyard’ which should never be uttered. This is a great sin, shameful, and unjust. The security present here does not exist in most countries. Let me say it definitively, it certainly does not exist in Southern Cyprus. With the capabilities of our own Security Command, our police, our soldiers, and the Turkish Armed Forces, this is a very safe island.”

‘THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT IS WHAT REGARDING THE NON-OPENING OF THE TWO GATES’

Regarding the failure to open the agreed-upon gates, President Tatar spoke as follows:

The Greek Cypriot Administration leader Nikos Christodoulides always causes tension. Perhaps he was also playing for the elections. I said this at the UN as well. He thinks that because the gates are not opening, there will be queues, and the public will turn back and not vote for Ersin Tatar. He made a very wrong calculation. The people know what's what. For the first time, I proposed two gates, one in Haspolat and the other in Akıncılar. Everyone knows this. For three years, I have proposed two gates, they are there, he is not opening them, and in return, there was a demand for land from us for these two gates to be opened. Mr. Hakan Fidan was next to me at the last 5+1 format meeting in New York, and he intervened, saying, 'This is unfair. We can open two gates, and you can also open two gates.' But when he opens those two gates, it's perhaps a technical thing, but he wants passage through the buffer zone. Passage through the buffer zone means returning that land to him. We will not give land, the gate will not open. Therefore, I proposed two gates under normal circumstances. Those two gates could have been opened. He did not open them, and it is right here, inside Metehan. Here too, from time to time, he reduces the number of officials here to incite the people against me, so that the queues get longer, and the people turn against me. There is such an insidious policy on the other side. But I trust my nation, I trust my people. I think everyone knows what is happening and should know. Therefore, at that point of the gate, believing in my people, I said to him, when I look at the numbers, there are as many Greek Cypriots crossing to the North as there are Turkish Cypriots crossing to the South. With this policy, you are punishing your own citizens. I also had these made into news on that side, so that he would have a headache over there.

‘THEY EVEN WENT AFTER OUR HELLIM’

President Tatar also made a statement regarding Jordan's halt of halloumi purchases. Tatar said, “I bring this up from time to time. I want opposition circles to sincerely evaluate what the Greek Cypriot mentality is once again. Because they are always striving for an agreement based on a federation model in Cyprus. Wake up now, the Greek Cypriots neither see you as equal nor have such an intention. They are doing these things for that reason. Because what they are essentially doing is trying to collapse us. Their chambers of commerce are going around to prevent even halloumi from being bought. Wherever they find an open door, they go and say, 'these are under occupation, that is our land, but they occupied it. Don't buy their halloumi. Their halloumi is not good.' By promoting our truly competitive halloumi in this way, they are also exerting political pressure and preventing its purchase. They even went after our halloumi.”

‘FOR A FEDERATION TO WORK, BOTH SIDES MUST BE IN BALANCE’

Tatar noted that they are also being pressured through universities in the TRNC, stating, “In every country he visits, he conducts anti-propaganda saying, 'Don't send students there, it's an occupied place and the universities there are not valid. Their diplomas are not valid.' After so many years, where will you meet and make an agreement? From now on, everyone should go their own way. They don't want us to breathe. Ultimately, there is a mentality that wants us to collapse, to fall out with each other here, for Turkey to say 'enough is enough,' and for us to surrender to them. If they truly had intentions for a federation based on equality after all these years, what conscience would allow for these embargoes, for this mentality of even going after our halloumi? There is no intention. Therefore, that's what I'm trying to say. However, if there were an intention, there should be a value that helps us. Because for a federation to work and succeed, both sides must be in balance. If one is weaker and the other is stronger, that federation will not work. There are many examples of this in the world,” he said.

‘LEAVE THE GREEK CYPRIOT ON THAT SIDE, LET'S LOOK AT OUR OWN PATH’

President Tatar said, “Therefore, what I call the blockade policy is this. Federation, now put an end to it. Come and embrace the state. When a federation is discussed, the world says 'either finish this work, and then we'll see. Should we recognize it or not? Or it belongs to the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, its property; in terms of all sorts of political balances, when a federation is discussed, the matter is different. However, if we say we have closed the federation chapter and embrace a two-state solution, then we will more sincerely demand the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We have now entered a stalemate. That's why I want to say, leave the Greek Cypriot on that side, let's look at our own path.”

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