President Ersin Tatar’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun took part on a program on BRT and spoke about the historical importance of Erenköy and its role in today’s diplomacy.

“We will not negotiate on our sovereign equality and equal international status” he said.

Special Representative Ergün Olgun reminisced about his time at Erenköy by saying that going to Erenköy was psychological as well as a physical contribution to the Turkish Cypriot peoples struggle for existence.

Reminding that the struggle waged was with great determination and sacrifice, he stated that almost 600 students had joined the fight in Erenköy.

“During that time the education system, the leaders and families had created great awareness. This had motivated everyone to become fighters and go to the Erenköy region” said Olgun.

He said that in addition to Türkiye’s rightful intervention in 1974, the Erenköy resistance paved the way for the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in 1983 and added that it has also shaped current diplomacy in the country.

He said that no matter what proposal had been put forward to the Greek Cypriot side it has always been rejected as the Greek Cypriot side always prevails in a single sovereign agreement.

“Now we are openly saying that our equality is not open for bargaining. It is not the subject of an agreement and it is not a right that will be given to us at the end of an agreement” said Olgun.

“This is our inherent right that is registered in the independence process of the island. It is our right. According to our equality, whatever rights and status the Greek Cypriots exercise, which includes sovereignty and international status, we too should have and therefore we want this to be reaffirmed. Failure to confirm this means a rejection of our equality” he said adding that for this reason they will not sit at the negotiating table until the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriots is acknowledged.