President Ersin Tatar on Monday said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was an independent state strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean.

He added that the Turkish Cypriot people were a strong people who resisted and stood on their own feet.

Tatar was speaking during his visits to the Bülent Ecevit Anadolu Lyceum and the Lefkoşa Türk Maarif College.

President Tatar on Monday who came together with students from the two high schools drew attention to the importance of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The TRNC is of great strategic importance which is why we must do all we can to maintain and preserve our state,” Tatar said.

He said that the goal of the Greek Cypriot side was to reduce the Turkish Cypriot people into a minority within the so-called Republic of Cyprus.

“There are two separate states in Cyprus. If there is to be an agreement it will be on the basis of two states. We will never accept a settlement that will reduce the Turkish Cypriots into a minority,” Tatar added.

The president also drew attention to the unjust embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people.

“Our biggest strength is the Republic of Türkiye. Türkiye is a strong state and has always stood by the Turkish Cypriot people under all circumstances,” he said.

Tatar also informed the students on the TRNC’s efforts to help Türkiye recover from the February 6 earthquake disaster.