President Ersin Tatar received a delegation led by Hasan Hüseyin Yarlıgan, the Çerkezköy Representative of the Turkish Veterans’ Association, at the Presidential Palace.

The visit, part of the celebrations marking the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), included a warm welcome for the Turkish Cypriot veterans who fought in the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation.

Speaking during the meeting, President Ersin Tatar highlighted the significance of 1974 as a “turning point for our nation” and expressed his pride in the shared victory achieved alongside the Turkish Cypriot resistance fighters.

“The triumph achieved in 1974 remains a legendary chapter in our history, marking the beginning of our people’s statehood,” he said.

Tatar praised the contributions of Turkish veterans in securing the TRNC and acknowledged their role in safeguarding peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“If there is peace and tranquillity on this island today, and if we have the potential to offer a prosperous future for the generations to come, it is due to the achievements of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation,” he stated.

Reflecting on the role of founding President Rauf R. Denktaş, Tatar underscored the significance of the TRNC’s establishment 41 years ago, following the 1974 operation, which he said provided Turkish Cypriots with “a dignified life.”

“A people’s greatest virtue is to have a state,” Tatar remarked, adding, “The Turkish Cypriots have their own state, a hard-earned achievement realized in partnership with our guarantor, Türkiye.”

In closing, President Tatar stressed that the presence of Turkish troops on the island remains the sole guarantee of peace and security, adding that the TRNC, with Türkiye’s steadfast support, will continue to uphold stability in the region.