President Ersin Tatar stressed that the new two-state policy the Turkish Cypriot side was advocating in Cyprus was the most correct policy and that a settlement on the island could only be achieved within the framework of equality that reflects the future and independence of the Turkish Cypriot People.

President Tatar also said that the opening of Maraş strengthened the Cyprus policy.

President Ersin Tatar who is holding contacts in the Turkish capital, Ankara visited the Turkish War Veterans Association where he came together with Cyprus war veterans.

Speaking there, the President expressed his happiness for being together with the war veterans who served in Cyprus, adding that he regularly met with veterans from different regions of Türkiye.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriots had suffered a lot at the hands of Greek Cypriots, had been subjected to genocide and displaced from their homes, the President noted that the Turkish Cypriots had gained their independence and freedom with the arrival of Turkish troops on the island on July 20, 1974.

“The facts in Cyprus are clear. The TRNC plays an important role in protecting our rights in the Blue Homeland and the Eastern Mediterranean. The past struggle of Türkiye is unforgettable. The Turkish Cypriot people carried on their struggle with the inspiration they received from Anatolia. The Cyprus case is a national cause” Tatar said.

Noting that the sacrifices made for the strengthening of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will never be forgotten, the President said that Türkiye had always protected its brethren in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, President Tatar was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the Ostim Technical University.

Speaking at the conference on “Turkish Cypriots’ Struggle for Existence on the Island and Our Rights in the Eastern Mediterranean” at the Ostim Technical University, Tatar said that Cyprus was a national cause and there has been a struggle on this issue for centuries.

Noting that Cyprus was also very important for Türkiye’s own security, he said every Turk must visit Cyprus.

The President also stressed that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will grow and further develop together with Türkiye.

Explaining that the opening of Maraş was an important step, President Tatar said “the opening of Maraş has strengthened our policy on the Cyprus Issue.”

Also touching upon the issue of the guarantees, Tatar said the main aim of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo was to force Türkiye out of Cyprus by scrapping the system of guarantees.

He said that this would spell the end of the Turkish Cypriot people who would be cut off from the motherland which is not an EU member.

Explaining that there should be an agreement on the basis of sovereignty in Cyprus and on cooperation between the two states, the president said that Ankara’s support to this policy was also an important step.

“We have always been in favor of an agreement” Tatar said.

Also touching upon his meeting with the President of Azerbaijan İlham Aliyev he stressed that the closeness of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkish Cypriots, like Türkiye, was pleasing.