The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu has said that the stronger Türkiye becomes, the stronger the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will become.
He said protecting the TRNC was protecting the future of the Turkish Cypriot people.
In an exclusive interview to Bayrak Television, Feyzioğlu said that the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye was characterized by a national cause that carried the founding philosophy of the Republic into the new century and strategically positioned itself according to the needs of the new century.
The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa said that Türkiye was proud and jubilant to be celebrating the 100th birthday of modern Türkiye founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who raised the Turkish nation from its ashes.
He said Atatürk’s most profound achievement was the introduction of reforms that placed Türkiye among the greatest states in the world.
Ambassador Feyzioğlu stressed that every experience during the Turkish War of Independence shed light on the present day and highlighted that the Republic of Türkiye, based on the unchangeable principles of its constitution, was a democratic social state governed by the rule of law.
He added that states that were not strong did not have a chance of survival in the region.
Ambassador Metin Feyzioğlu stated that in the midst of the tensions surrounding them, Türkiye serves as an island of trust and stability in this geography.
“We run towards the new century without giving up a single bit of our principle of ‘peace at home, peace in the world’ and the fundamental principles of our state. In other words, we are heading towards the century of Türkiye,” he added.
He described the century of Türkiye as a national cause that carries the founding philosophy of the Republic into the new century and strategically positions itself according to the needs of the new century,
He stressed that in the century of Türkiye, being both strong and right was essential, adding that that being right in foreign policy was not sufficient, and that having both military and economic strength was also necessary.
“Just as our history is intertwined with the TRNC in Cyprus, our future is also intertwined. The welfare of Türkiye and the TRNC is interconnected. The security of Türkiye and the TRNC is interdependent. Ensuring the security of energy resources, ports, energy transmission lines, whether its natural gas or oil, all of this will be achieved through the cooperation of our states. As Türkiye strengthens, so will the TRNC. It will strengthen its institutional structure, further institutionalize public administration, and undoubtedly reach the level of prosperity that the Turkish Cypriots deserve.”
Also touching upon the Cyprus issue, Feyzioğlu criticised the international community for adopting a biased stance on the island, pointing out that Greek Cypriots have never accepted a federal settlement in Cyprus.
“In 1960, a federal solution was proposed, but it was the Greek Cypriots who usurped the state. They rejected it by an overwhelming majority, stating that they didn’t want to share any authority with the Turkish Cypriots. When the issue of power-sharing came up again at Crans Montana, it was once again the Greek Cypriots who walked away from the table. So what does equality mean in that case? I want to govern the south as I govern the north. I want to continue the rule of the Cyprus Republic that I have usurped, in the north as well. I will allow you, under the framework of EU standards, to live as a minority in a corner. That’s the essence of it,” he said.
The Turkish Ambassador concluded the interview with a reference to the words of the founding President of the TRNC
Rauf Denktaş, “Let’s trust our states, let’s trust our nation.”
“We are two states but one nation. Denktaş’s will to ‘protect your state’ contains the most important statement on what we need to do in this geography where we must hold onto it tightly. Protecting the TRNC is protecting the future of the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots are the original element of the mighty Turkish nation living on the island of Cyprus. There is no separation or disunity. There is no separation of interests. Our past and our future are one,” he said.