President Ersin Tatar, who completed his visits to Türkiye, has returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Within the framework of his contacts, President Tatar gave a conference at Çukurova University in Adana.

At the conference, Tatar said, “The Turkish Cypriot people established their own state and have set out for recognition there is no turning back now. There is no reason for the TRNC not to be recognized.”

President Tatar, who gave a conference on “The importance of the TRNC within the framework of recent developments” at Çukurova University, also received the honorary doctorate bestowed upon him.

While receiving his honorary doctorate awarded to him by the Çukurova University senate, Tatar said that he was honoured and was working to ensure the welfare, peace and security of the Turkish Cypriot people and to protect the rights and interests of the Republic of Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The existence of the TRNC is a great gain for Türkiye and the Turkic world. We will walk united to the future together.”

Pointing to the July 20, 1974 Peace Operation, Tatar said, “If we have a republic and a state today, if we have not left our Cyprus to the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo in the Eastern Mediterranean, if our rights and laws in the Blue Homeland have been strengthened, this is the result of the struggles we have waged”.

“The Turkish Cypriot people are a separate people with their language, religion, customs, traditions and struggles,” said Tatar and added that every people has the right to determine its own future.

“The Turkish Cypriot people have established their own state and set out for recognition, there is no turning back now. All the elements that exist in any state also exist in the TRNC.  There is no reason why the TRNC state should not be recognized. If there is to be an agreement, the TRNC state will be part of it. If there is to be an agreement, it will be with the cooperation of the two states… Türkiye’s guarantor status and the continued presence of the Turkish military on the island as a deterrent force is our red line. We constantly share this with the international community. If the negotiation table is to be set, our sovereign equality and equal international status must be recognized,” said Tatar.

Commenting on the visit of Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy to Cyprus, President Tatar stated that they conveyed their views and the need to lift the isolation to her.