President Ersin Tatar has said that the Treaty of Lausanne, which granted economic and political independence to Türkiye, was a highly significant political achievement as it provided international legitimacy to the government established in Ankara against occupation.
President Ersin Tatar issued a statement on Monday on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne.
In his written statement, President Ersin Tatar said that the Treaty of Lausanne, which secured full independence for Anatolia by largely realizing the goals set by the National Pact (Misak-ı Milli), eradicated the conditions imposed by the Treaty of Sevres.
“The success achieved in Lausanne under the leadership of İsmet Paşa, who, despite being a military officer, demonstrated his diplomatic prowess to the whole world, was regarded as the founding agreement of the Republic of Türkiye. It served as the most crucial legal document proving the establishment of a new independent Turkish state, recognized by the entire world, and continues to inspire and empower everyone to this day,” the president said.
Tatar emphasized that the Turkish nation’s determination never to give up its freedom and independence under any circumstances, as demonstrated in the War of Independence and subsequent political victories, had significant political implications on a global scale.
He said that this great triumph served as a guiding light to all oppressed nations and a source of strength and inspiration for the national struggle and resistance of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Tatar highlighted how the Turkish Cypriot people, fuelled by the strength and inspiration from this great victory, continued their struggle under the harshest conditions, never compromising their freedom and independence.
“After an epic struggle against the fascist EOKA mentality, they regained their homeland and sovereignty,” he said.
President Tatar also said that on the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, which crowned the military successes of the great leader Atatürk and his comrades with a political victory, they once again proclaimed to the world, as representatives of the Turkish world in the Eastern Mediterranean, that they would never give up on their statehood, sovereignty, and freedom.