President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday attended the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit organized by the Marmara Group Foundation within the framework of his contacts in Istanbul.
Delivering a speech at the summit, the President said that exclusion and isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots despite international agreements, ignoring the rights of Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean and the acceptance of Cyprus as a Greek island was not fitting of the international community.
Tatar returned to the republic last night after completing his contacts.
President Ersin Tatar attended the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit held in Istanbul by the Marmara Group Foundation.
The summit, which was held under the theme ‘End Distrust, Begin Collaboration’ and attended by more than 300 politicians, diplomats, academics, faith leaders and business people from 44 countries, started with an opening speech by the President of the Marmara Group Foundation, Dr. Akkan Suver.
At the opening of the summit, the messages sent by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan İlhan Aliyev were also read out.
President Ersin Tatar also delivered a speech at the summit.
Drawing attention to the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in his speech, Tatar stated that he was prevented from speaking at many international meetings because of his title as President of the TRNC which was subjected to international embargoes.
Tatar also expressed his sorrow due to the earthquake disaster in Türkiye.
Explaining that he had discussed the possibility of cooperation with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides on the issue of earthquakes, the president said that he will continue to put forward a policy in favour of dialogue for the continuation of peace and stability in the region.
Pointing to the energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Tatar said that cooperating with the Greek Cypriot side on the issue would have benefits for both sides.
He also underlined that the Greek Cypriot side should clearly understand that it is not possible to achieve anything through a culture of conflict.
Stating that the Turkish Cypriot people had their own language, religion, culture, history and a special devotion to Anatolia, Tatar said “we will work to keep our state alive forever with our vested sovereign rights.”
He complained that the exclusion of Turkish Cypriots, the ignorance of Türkiye’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and the preferential treatment of the Greek Cypriots did not suit the international community.
Touching upon the admittance of the TRNC as an observer member to the Organization of Turkic States, Tatar said that this was an important development.
“It is our greatest wish to give our youth a hopeful future, to be integrated with the world and to meet certain standards,” he said.
Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people will never give up on their sovereignty, independence and state, Tatar called on the representatives of other countries participating in the summit to respect the Turkish Cypriot people’s existence and right to self-determination.
As part of his other contacts in Istanbul on Tuesday, President Tatar visited the Istanbul Chamber of Industry.
In addition to the Cyprus issue, views were exchanged at the meeting on prospects for investment and cooperation with the TRNC.
Speaking during the visit, the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Erdal Bahçıvan pointed to the importance of economic cooperation with the TRNC.
President Tatar for his part drew attention to the need to strengthen the economy in order to increase the welfare and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot People.