President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday wrapped up his trip to Türkiye with contacts held in Gaziantep.
Earlier, Tatar who was in Adıyaman visited the site of the collapsed Isias Hotel in Adıyaman, where the Champion Angels lost their lives.
President Tatar, speaking there, referred to the ongoing trial regarding the Isias Hotel, stating that justice must be served for the families and children to find peace.
In Gaziantep, Tatar participated in the 50th Anniversary events of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation at Gaziantep University where he inaugurated the Struggle for Existence Exhibition.
Visiting the site where the İsias Hotel in Adıyaman once stood President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday spoke about the tragic event that occurred on February 6, 2023, known as the “Century’s Catastrophe”, where 35 Turkish Cypriot students, their teachers and some family members lost their lives when the hotel collapsed following the massive earthquake that struck the region.
He emphasized that since that day, the Turkish Cypriot people have shared this grief with the affected families.
Expressing the need to learn lessons from all these events in order to prevent similar tragedies from happening again and to protect future generations, Tatar expressed hope that officials would be much more sensitive and careful in the future.
President Tatar also touched upon the ongoing trial of suspects held responsible for deaths of the 24 member Türk Maarif College Volleyball team and 11 of their teachers and coaches when the İsias Hotel collapsed on February 6.
“There is currently a trial underway. Sensitivity is very important to us because the cries of the families, the peace of the families and children, are for justice to be served. For justice to be served, the independent Turkish judiciary will certainly do what is necessary. Necessary reports and investigations have been submitted to the authorities. The expectation of the families is that there was ‘intent’ in this incident. Indeed, when you look at this wreckage and the buildings around it, the surrounding buildings are standing tall.
However, this building has turned into a pile of sand, and lives have been lost here,” he said.
Tatar later visited the Earthquake Martyrs Cemetery.
Moving onto Gaziantep after completing his contacts in Adıyaman, President Tatar took part in an event held at Gaziantep University within the framework of events marking the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation.
Speaking there, Tatar emphasized the importance of sovereignty.
He said that the Turkish Cypriot people, with their language, religion, traditions, customs, and distinct characteristics, are a separate people and have the right to determine their own future.
He explained the new policies being implemented.
Tatar emphasized that accepting the new policy is a prerequisite for the Turkish Cypriot side’s return to the negotiating table, stating that this policy is also supported by Ankara and serves the reality of the TRNC.