President Ersin Tatar attended a conference titled, “The Future Vision of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Context of the Organization of Turkic States,” organized by the Turkish Literature Foundation.

President Ersin Tatar was presented with the “Living Dede Korkut Award” in recognition of his services and contributions to the Turkic Republics and the Turkic world.

President Ersin Tatar participated in the conference “The Future Vision of the TRNC in the Context of the Organization of Turkic States.”

The program began with an opening speech by the President of the Turkish Literature Foundation, Serhat Kabaklı.

A video prepared by the Presidency, showcasing developments in the TRNC’s foreign affairs, was met with applause from the audience.

During the conference, President Ersin Tatar stressed that the historical struggles of the Turkish Cypriots had been shaped by culture, spirituality, and devotion to the nation.

He also expressed his strong belief in the bright future and progress of the TRNC.

In his speech, President Tatar highlighted that throughout history, no state or ethnic group had had a presence in Cyprus as long as the Ottoman Empire.

He expressed his sadness over the removal of the Ottoman flag and the raising of the British flag in Cyprus, which was a painful moment for the Cypriots.

“From 1571 to the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, for nearly 350 years, Cyprus was part of the Ottoman Empire, and with that, we share history, culture, heritage, foundations, our spirit, spirituality, identity, values- everything we have” Tatar said.

Pointing out that even during times when communication and transportation were difficult, the Cypriots never lost faith in their homeland, national unity, and solidarity, he stated, “This is our past. This is our heart. This is the sole expression of our being Turkish, of being an inseparable and indestructible part of the nation. This is how we have come this far.”

“All of this struggle, resistance, and success is, in a sense, our culture, our spirituality, our values, our faith, and our attachment to the nation. Without being connected to the nation through these values, you would break away, be assimilated by others, and disappear under their yoke and oppression. The Turkish Cypriots have been able to resist this because our roots and foundations are strong, and they continue to be strong” Tatar added.

Commenting on the development of Cyprus over the years, President Tatar said, “I have no doubt that the TRNC will be the shining star of the Eastern Mediterranean in the future.”

Stressing the importance of not only taking pride in the past but also strengthening communication channels with the Turkish nation to push these developments further, Tatar stated, “I have no doubt that we can lead Cyprus to even better days because you are here.”

Following his speech, President Ersin Tatar was presented with the “Living Dede Korkut Award” for his services and contributions to the Turkic Republics and the Turkic world.