President Ersin Tatar met with Turkish Cypriots residing in New York on the last day of his contacts in New York.
Tatar highlighted the unity and dedication of Turkish Cypriots living abroad to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), as well as their cultural and historical heritage.
“Passing on these values to future generations is our greatest strength,” Tatar remarked at the event at Port Washington, organised by entrepreneur Ayhan Hassan.
In his speech, Tatar stated that during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, he met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the Cyprus issue.
“I bring you warm greetings from the TRNC. Every year, when I come to New York for the UN General Assembly, I take great pride in meeting the Turkish Cypriots living here. I extend my gratitude to Ayhan Hassan for hosting this event,” Tatar said, noting that many Turkish Cypriots living in New York visit the TRNC at least once a year.
Tatar emphasized the efforts of Turkish Cypriots abroad to pass down their cultural and national values to their children.
“I am proud to see that, while fulfilling your responsibilities in your daily lives, you maintain your loyalty to your homeland. Many of you visit the TRNC at least once a year, and some even invest in our country,” he added.
Reflecting on the impact of globalization and technology, Tatar said, “Today, you can connect with your families in the TRNC through video calls at the touch of a button. But when your elders first immigrated to America, such technology didn’t exist. Letters sent from here to Cyprus, and vice versa, took months to arrive.”
Tatar expressed the importance of unity among Turkish Cypriots abroad, stating, “Our greatest wealth is the unity and solidarity among Turkish Cypriots living abroad and your love and commitment to the TRNC, its culture, and history. Passing these feelings on to future generations is our greatest strength. ”
Addressing the frustrations felt by the Turkish Cypriots, Tatar said, “You have expressed your disappointment that promises to end the isolation, start direct flights, and initiate trade and contact have not been fulfilled. I want you to know that, as your President, I have conveyed these demands to international actors. Our struggle for equal treatment, equal status, and equal opportunities continues because Turkish Cypriots have equal and inherent rights on the island of Cyprus.”
Regarding his meetings in New York, Tatar noted that during his discussions with the UN Secretary-General, he emphasized the need for the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot people’s sovereign equality and equal international status.
He stated that new, official negotiations could only begin after these rights are confirmed and recognized.
Tatar also underscored the failure of federal negotiations, which have been ongoing in various formats for over half a century, saying, “Federal-based negotiations have been tried, failed, and exhausted. It is time to think outside the box. We now call for new and realistic discussions that will lead to a practical and sustainable solution. We believe a solution based on cooperation between two neighbouring states is possible. We want the island of Cyprus to be a symbol of peace and stability in a region that lacks both.”