The 40th Year International Media Workshop of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is underway.
The three-day workshop organized by the Global Journalism Council which hosts 60 local and foreign journalists aims to promote and introduce the TRNC on the international stage.
Speaking at the opening of the event on Thursday, President Ersin Tatar said that the Cyprus issue from now on should be referred to as a national cause as the Cyprus problem had been solved with the arrival of Türkiye in 1974.
The three-day event which was marked on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the TRNC’s establishment began with an opening speech by Mehmet Ali Dim, the President of the Global Journalism Council.
Emphasizing the importance of taking significant steps for the international promotion of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dim noted that TRNC has succeeded in attracting the interest of many foreign investors, especially from Türkiye.
He said that the government however needed to do more to lift bureaucratic obstacles in the way of investors.
Also speaking, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu, highlighted the significance of the council’s visit to the TRNC and the workshop, stating that the Cyprus issue is not just a problem but a national cause.
He mentioned the fatigue caused by ongoing issues but emphasized the importance of the national cause and a spirit to be passed on to future generations.
He acknowledged the existence of two separate peoples on the island and pointed out that without resistance and support from Türkiye, the situation in the TRNC would not have been different from the situation in Gaza.
The Turkish ambassador also touched upon the issue of the Secretary-General’s new envoy to Cyprus, pointing out that the designated representative would act not as a special but as a personal envoy.
Feyzioğlu reminded that the new envoy’s duty would be to seek new common ground between the two sides, not to launch a new negotiation process.
The Turkish Ambassador also touching upon the issue of the sale of property to foreigners said that the situation was being closely monitored by the TRNC officials and the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
He refuted claims that large swathes of the TRNC had been sold off to foreigners.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu for his part spoke about his ministry’s ongoing efforts for the promotion of the TRNC.
Delivering the final speech at the event, President Ersin Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriots were an integral part of the larger Turkish nation. He also reiterated that the Cyprus issue should now be referred to as a national cause, as the arrival of Türkiye in 1974 had settled the matter once and for all.
Tatar emphasized the need to protect national interests and the survival of the TRNC as a sovereign state.
He called on the media to be mindful of the responsibility to protect the interests of the TRNC while reporting.
President Tatar stated that the struggle is for the preservation of the TRNC and urged the media to contribute to this effort.
However, he expressed disappointment with recent reports claiming that the will of the Turkish Cypriots has been sold to others.