The National Unity Party (UBP) celebrated its 47th anniversary with a grand reception on Tuesday night.
The reception held at the Eylsium Park was packed with party supporters and members as the National Unity Party gathered in mass to celebrate its 47th anniversary.
Attending the evening was President Ersin Tatar, the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre, the UBP leader and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri, high level officials from Türkiye’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), ministers and other guests.
Addressing the reception, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said that the UBP since its foundation in 1975 had been working for the future of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
On the Cyprus Issue, Üstel pointed out that a federal settlement was no longer on the table and that any settlement to be reached in Cyprus needed to be on the basis of sovereign equality.
He reminded the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had made a call for the recognition of the TRNC.
Üstel also criticized the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) for collaborating with a party in the south regarding a federal settlement, particularly at a time when the US had lifted the arms embargo on South Cyprus.
Regarding the economy, the prime minister said that the cooperation protocol signed with Türkiye was aimed at raising the welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Also touching upon the upcoming local elections, Üstel said that preparations were being made according to 18 municipalities in line with the amended municipalities’ law.
“We will walk this path with candidates who will win. We will be sharing the names of our candidates as they are nominated,” he said.
Also speaking at the reception, President Ersin Tatar said that the UBP was the country’s biggest political party.
He described the party as a cornerstone of the TRNC, responsible for maintaining relations with motherland Türkiye at the highest level.
On the Cyprus Issue, President Ersin Tatar said that Turkish Cypriot side’s position was clear, holding talks on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.
“We support a two-state solution on the basis of sovereign equality and the cooperation of two states existing side-by-side. We have been rejecting the games being played in the region,” he said.
Tatar also pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side had successfully put the Maraş initiative into action and they had just celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the partial opening of the fenced-off town.
“This move contributed greatly to the TRNC’s economy,” he said.
Touching upon his latest contacts in Erzincan, Tatar said that he was pleased to announce that the TRNC had been granted observer status at the Turkic States Organisation. “Our struggle will continue step by step,” he said.
Tatar concluded his remarks by drawing attention to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Ukraine as well as the lifting of the arms embargo on South Cyprus, pointing out that these developments once again demonstrated why it is impossible for the Turkish Cypriot people to give up Türkiye’s active and effective guarantees.