Türkiye’s War of Independence provided a source of inspiration for the Turkish Cypriot people in their struggle to achieve peace and freedom, said President Ersin Tatar at the opening an exhibition in Lefkoşa titled, “The National Struggle and Turkish Cypriots on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.”
The exhibition was inaugrated by President Ersin Tatar and the visiting Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu.
Attending the opening of the exhibition currently on display at the Bedesten in Lefkoşa was the Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, several other ministers, the General Director of the Vakıflar Administration İbrahim Benter as well as other state and military officials.
Delivering a speech at the event, the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu said that Türkiye attached great importance to the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.
“We are at an exhibition of the national struggle. We shall witness at this exhibition a struggle in history like none before. Here on display are important pieces and artefacts which reflect the spirit of the War of Independence and the Republic that was created afterwards,” he said.
Kasapoğlu also pointed out that it was important for youth in both Türkiye and the TRNC to know their history and to understand the importance of the sacrifices made on the road to freedom and independence.
President Ersin Tatar for his part said that the Turkish War of Independence served as a powering inspiration for the Turkish Cypriot people in their own struggle for freedom and independence.
He said that it was their greatest hope and desire to see the Turkish Cypriot people protect, preserve and uphold their own state, just like the Turkish nation has with the Turkish Republic.
“The TRNC will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The struggle waged by the Turkish nation in this geography is full of pride and honour. The sense of solidarity, union, courage and heroism we will witness through this exhibition, continues to live on with the TRNC,” he said.