President Ersin Tatar departed for Australia on Tuesday for a series of contacts and meetings.
The president will be returning to the TRNC next week.
Speaking at Ercan before his departure, President Ersin Tatar said that the primary purpose of his trip was to participate in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the migration of Turkish Cypriots to Australia.
Tatar highlighted the significance of this milestone and stated that he would attend numerous events organized by local institutions, associations, and business leaders in Australia.
“Over 100,000 of our compatriots live in Australia, now in their fourth generation. Many of us have relatives there. Despite the many years and great distance, they have not severed ties with their homeland. They have preserved our national and cultural traditions, which is no small feat,” Tatar remarked.
He emphasized the historic nature of his visit, noting that he was the first TRNC President to travel to Australia.
Tatar expressed gratitude to the Turkish Cypriots in Australia for their contributions and successes, which have had a positive impact on the TRNC.
“I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Turkish Cypriots living in Australia. Those who were forced to migrate have achieved great success there and have supported the TRNC in many ways. No matter where we are, we have come this far by standing united. It is a significant achievement that we have maintained our presence so strongly in Australia for 80 years. This is a notable success for the Turkish Cypriot community,” he said.
President Tatar is accompanied by Hüseyin Işıksal, Special Advisor on International Relations and Diplomacy, and Kerem Özem Haser, Head of External Press for the Presidency.