President Ersin Tatar attended the award ceremony of the 16 km resistance run organized on the occasion of the August 1 Communal Resistance Day.

In his speech at the ceremony, President Tatar noted that the struggle in the international arena is the acceptance of the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and said, “Without our existing sovereignty being accepted we will not return to the negotiating table and this is what we are telling the world”.

The award ceremony of the 16 km “Endurance Road Run” organized in line with the August 1 Communal Resistance Day was held at the Cyprus TMT Mujahids Association.

President Ersin Tatar, Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Osman Aytaç, Deputy Commander of the Security Forces Brigadier General Kadir Bayraklı and guests attended the ceremony.

Delivering an opening speech at the ceremony the President of the Cyprus TMT Mujahids Association Celal Bayar stated that they were very proud to be celebrating the August 1 Communal Resistance Day and reminisced about the TMT fighters’ establishment.

He said that if the TMT had not been established the Turkish Cypriots would not have reached where they are today.

President Ersin Tatar also said a few words at the ceremony by emphasizing that August was a period in which the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish nation won very important victories.

Reminding that not only the establishment of the TMT but also the Security Forces Command and the Battle of Malazgirt took place in August, Tatar said that very important developments took place in the country.

He also said that the TRNC being an independent Turkish state and an observer member in the Organization of Turkic States is very important for the survival of the Mediterranean and the Blue Homeland.

Reminding that Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis said “If there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, Türkiye should not be in it” during his visit to South Cyprus on July 20, Tatar emphasized that an agreement without Türkiye means zero troops and zero guarantee, and that the Turkish Cypriot people and of course Türkiye will not approve such an agreement.

He reiterated that if there is to be an agreement, an independent TRNC will be included in that agreement and expressed his hope that everyone now understands that they do not intend to be dragged into an agreement where the state will disappear.

Tatar emphasized that the speech made by the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC and the demonstrations held along the Girne coast demonstrated the status of the TRNC within the national state.

Also touching upon the events in Gaza, Tatar said, “What happened in Gaza is a result of the structuring in South Cyprus, and while steps are being taken the island is being exposed to all kinds of targets in the logistics base position, in order not to be exposed to these dangers, we have to defend the TRNC to the end, to maintain peace, trust and tranquillity, we have to maintain this determination to the end and carry it to the future.”

After the speeches were completed, the winners of the 16 km endurance race received their awards.