President Ersin Tatar visited the new service building of the TRNC Consulate General in Gaziantep on Wednesday before wrapping up his two-day trip that included Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman and Gaziantep.
During his visit to the TRNC Consulate, which was relocated to the Gaziantep Art Center and started its services as of November, Tatar was briefed by Consul General Kerem İzmen on the office’s operations.
President Ersin Tatar who was in Gaziantep on the last day of his latest visit to Türkiye visited the new TRNC Consulate Office.
Tatar met with the TRNC Consul General Kerem İzmen who briefed the president on the office’s activities.
Speaking during the visit, İzmen expressed his gratitude, stating that the new Consulate General office was allocated to them by the Mayor of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Fatma Şahin.
İzmen emphasized that they provide all kinds of consular services in their area of responsibility, particularly mentioning their efforts in the fields of education, visas, and military service.
He also noted that the Gaziantep Consulate was coordinating the ongoing trial regarding the Champion Angels case in Adıyaman.
President Ersin Tatar for his part said that the TRNC consulate assumed a significant role in maintaining the country’s relations with Gaziantep, which he added was one of Türkiye’s fastest growing cities, especially in recent years due to investments in industry and its success in exports.
Tatar pointed out that Gaziantep serves as a bridge for other cities in the region, especially highlighting the contributions of Mayor Fatma Şahin in developing relations and expressing his gratitude.
He also drew attention to the fact that the flight time between the TRNC and Gaziantep was only 40 minutes by plane, and regular flights were being operated.
The president also pointed out that Gaziantep had recovered quickly from last year’s devastating earthquake which struck the region.
Tatar recalled attending the 50th anniversary event of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation at Gaziantep University on Tuesday, stating that even 50 years after the operation, an independent Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean fulfilled its duty in defending all national interests.
“We are fortunate to have jointly achieved all these successes,” he said, emphasizing the importance of young people in both countries continuing these achievements.
Expressing his gratitude for the interest and hospitality shown by the people of Gaziantep, President Tatar expressed his hope for further developing relations and wished that the new Consulate General office would bring blessings.
Earlier this week, President Ersin Tatar held contacts in Kahramanmaraş as well as Adıyaman which were the worst hit areas by the February 6 earthquake.
As part of his contacts, Tatar attended celebrations marking the 104th anniversary of Kahramanmaraş’s Liberation from occupation forces during the Turkish War of Independence.
He also visited the cemetery for earthquake victims in Adıyaman and the site of the İsias Hotel where the Turkish Cypriot volleyball squad, dubbed the “Champion Angels” had perished.
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.