President Ersin Tatar attended the “Meeting with Turkish Cypriots: Commemorating 80 Years of Turkish Cypriot Migration to Australia” event held at Sunshine Mosque in Melbourne.

Addressing the attendees, President Tatar expressed pride in visiting the Sunshine Mosque, a significant establishment owned by the Turkish Cypriot community.

He extended his gratitude to all Turkish Cypriot members who contributed to the realization of the complex.

“No matter where they live—be it in the TRNC, Türkiye, the UK, or Australia—every Turkish Cypriot’s heart beats as one. I commend you for preserving your culture and identity here in Australia,” President Ersin Tatar said in his speech at the event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the first Turkish Cypriots who emigrated to Australia.

He urged the Turkish Cypriots in Australia to invest in the TRNC, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ties with their homeland.

Highlighting the progress of the TRNC over the past 30 years despite severe isolation, Tatar noted significant advancements such as the presence of over 30,000 international students from more than 100 countries studying in the TRNC.

He also pointed to the expansion of Ercan Airport, which now meets modern standards and can handle 10 million passengers annually, making it the largest airport on the island.

These developments, he said, are transforming the TRNC’s landscape, strengthening its economy, and increasing prosperity.

Tatar also emphasized the critical support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting the implementation of major projects, including the 75 million cubic meter underwater pipeline project.

He mentioned the forthcoming integration of an interconnected electrical system between Türkiye and the TRNC, which will mark the beginning of a new era for the TRNC.

The President highlighted the strategic and geopolitical importance of Cyprus, located just 65 kilometers from Türkiye, and stressed the growing significance of the TRNC.

Addressing the Cyprus issue, Tatar reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s continuous efforts to find a solution and blamed the lack of progress on the Greek Cypriot side’s unwillingness to share the island’s resources equally.

He stated that federal negotiations had been attempted, failed, and exhausted, and that the Turkish Cypriot community now envisions a solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status.

Tatar also noted the TRNC’s acceptance as an observer member under its constitutional name in the Organization of Turkic States and the establishment of various relationships with other Turkic states.

He highlighted the deepening relations between the TRNC and Azerbaijan, asserting that these connections reaffirm the notion of “three states, one nation.”