The Azerbaijan International Cultural Centre, which was realized by the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship Society to strengthen the bridges of friendship between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Azerbaijan, was inaugurated with a ceremony.
In the speeches made at the ceremony, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan, Türkiye and the TRNC share the same national values, destiny and history.
The opening ceremony was attended by the deputies of the Azerbaijan-TRNC and Türkiye-TRNC Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group as well as many guests from Türkiye and abroad.
The President of the Azerbaijan Cyprus Friendship Society Orhan Hasanoğlu stated his belief that the Azerbaijan International Cultural Centre will be an important milestone of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and TRNC.
The Director of the TRNC and TRNC Department of the Azerbaijan State Diaspora Directorate Cavid Ismail for his part said that in 2018, as a continuation of the policy carried out by the Diaspora Committee, in 15 countries, there were 29 organizations that Ilham Aliyev and his wife attached great importance to.
He said that the International Cultural Centre that opened in the TRNC is also a part of them.
The Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Fazil Mustafa noted that in its new history, the TRNC is an independent state that will be in contact and solidarity with the Azerbaijani state in political, cultural, economic and other fields.
The Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Türkiye Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Ahliman Amiraslanov stated that President Aliyev and his wife attach great importance to the opening of Azerbaijan Civilization Houses.
The Chairman of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Şamil Ayrım stated that the TRNC, Azerbaijan and Türkiye are 3 lives in 1 body, 3 states of 1 nation.
The Chairman of the Azerbaijan-TRNC Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Javanshir Feyziyev for his part said that in the meetings they attended, they discussed ways in which the relations between the two countries could be further developed.
The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre in his speech at the inauguration ceremony stated that the Turkic World is a whole from Anatolia to the Caucasus, from Central Asia to Ergenekon, and that the Turkic states achieved their independence thanks to the martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives.
Töre said that with the July 20 Peace Operation, the Turkish Cypriot people and the mujahids united with the Mehmetçik (Turkish fighters) and achieved freedom, security and independence.
Töre emphasized that all Turkic states that say “I am happy to be a Turk” are one and united.
President Ersin Tatar for his part stated that the TRNC, which is an independent Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean, has always longed to be one nation and three states and that this dream has started to be realized.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan, the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC share the same national values, destiny and history.
He also stated that the embargoes and isolations imposed by the Western world, South Cyprus and some European Union countries on Turkish Cypriots are a great evil done to the Turkish Cypriot people and are insidious games aimed at destroying the Turkish Cypriot people.
“The Turkish Cypriot people will never be destroyed,” said Tatar.
Stating that the TRNC, which is an independent state, is the southernmost frontier guard of the Turkic States, Tatar noted that the Turkish Cypriot people are an inseparable part of the great Turkish nation.
Tatar said that it is his greatest wish to further develop relations with Azerbaijan in every field.
After the speeches, the bust of Heydar Aliyev, the leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was unveiled.
The event was completed with the opening of the “Azerbaijan in our Hearts” photo exhibition, a reception and then a conference on “The Future of Türkiye-Azerbaijan-TRNC Relations”.