Acting President and Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre received a delegation from Bursa’s Orhangazi Cyprus Combatant Veterans Association headed by İbrahim Çakır on Tuesday.

Addressing the guests, Töre reminded that the Turkish Cypriot people had endured great suffering, had been displaced from their ancestral homes and had given martyrs.

“We made these lands our home. Now there are those who demand concessions from us on these lands,” he said.

Töre stressed that there would be no compromise on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or the Turkish military as the TRNC was an independent state that continued on its path with the support of Türkiye.

“The Turkish Peace Forces brought peace to the island, something which the UN peacekeeping force had failed to achieve. Even recently we saw how the UN is biased on the issue of the Pile-Yiğitler road. Thanks to Türkiye, we continue on our path. For us, the most significant thing is Türkiye; the Turkish army is our greatest source of trust, our only assurance,” he said

Töre also said that Greece and Greek Cypriot side, due to the indulgence of Europe and the international community, have never been truly in favour of reconciliation.

He mentioned that the stance taken on the construction of a road in Pile is the latest example of this.

Töre also noted that some circles see the Turkish military as guests, but the Turkish military is not a guest; it is a permanent presence on the island.

Following Töre’s speech, representatives from the veterans’ delegation shared their memories of Cyprus.