President Ersin Tatar on Wednesday repeated the Turkish Cypriot side’s expectation from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) as well as the rest of the international community to pressure the Greek Cypriot side into accepting the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ sovereign equality and equal international status.
Tatar was speaking at the main ceremony held at the Dr Fazıl Küçük Boulevard to mark the 20th of July Turkish Peace Operation.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay who also spoke at the ceremony expressed Türkiye’s continued support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
President Ersin Tatar and the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay both gave important messages in their addresses at the main ceremony held on Wednesday to mark the 48th anniversary of the July 20, 1974 Turkish Peace Operation.
Tatar told the crowds at the ceremony, that the 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day was proof that the Turkish Cypriot people who won their struggle to live freely in Cyprus forever could face all challenges and difficulties shoulder to shoulder with motherland Türkiye.
He said that one of the biggest reasons why the Cyprus Problem still continued was the unjust decision adopted by the UN Security Council on March 4, 1964 recognizing the so-called Republic of Cyprus which had been transformed into a Greek state as the only legitimate government on the island.
Tatar said that a solution in Cyprus will not be possible as long as the current imbalance between the two sides is not addressed.
“Another obstacle in the way of a settlement is the EU and its biased stance in favour of Greek Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots emboldened by this situation continues to maintain their intransigent stance on the Cyprus Issue,” he added.
The president reminded that the 1960 Republic of Cyprus which was transformed into a Greek state through the force of arms was not the property of the Greek Cypriots.
He pointed out that any attempt to exclude Türkiye, which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, from hydrocarbon activities in the region will be unsuccessful.
Tatar complained that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected all offers from the Turkish Cypriot side to form a joint committee that would oversee the management and distribution of the island’s hydrocarbon resources. “Instead the Greek Cypriot side is continuing its unilateral activities and its armament campaign,” he said.
President Ersin Tatar also pointed out that the latest talks held in Crans Montana proved that a federal settlement in Cyprus could not be reached.
He reminded that he had recently made new proposals to the Greek Cypriot side regarding hydrocarbons, interconnectivity, renewable energy, water, demining and undocumented migrants.
“However we have not received a response to any of these proposals yet,” Tatar added.
Also delivering a speech, the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said that the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation had shown the world that the Turkish Cypriots will never make any concessions from their sovereignty and independence.
He said that cooperation between the TRNC and Türkiye will continue.
Oktay also announced that Türkiye’s fourth drill ship will launch operations in the Mediterranean in August.
“Abdulhamid Han drill ship is planned to start operations in the Mediterranean next month,” he said.
The Turkish vice president reminded that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had proposed to hold a regional conference with the participation of all related parties and stakeholders which the Greek Cypriot side had rejected.
Oktay also said that a solution will only be possible as and when the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot people is recognized.
He added that plans were underway to include the TRNC in the upcoming summit of the Organization of Turkic States which in the long run would help ease the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Meanwhile, President Ersin Tatar hosted a reception at the Concorde Tower in Lefkoşa on Wednesday evening.
Guests from abroad, military and civilian officials and the public attended the reception.