The 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic was marked with jubilant ceremonies and events held across the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday.
The first ceremony took place in the capital, Lefkoşa
During the ceremony held in front of the Atatürk Monument, President Ersin Tatar and Ambassador Metin Feyzioğlu shared their hopes for the “Century of Türkiye” to transform into a “Century of the Turks” as they signed the monument’s special guestbook.
The ceremony began with the laying of wreaths at the monument, followed by a moment of silence and the hoisting of flags to the National Anthem.
“Few events in history have determined future events. When we look at today, 100 years after the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, we realize that this is one of those great events. The declaration of the Turkish Republic, which is the final stage of the War of Independence led by the great Turkish nation, resisted all the games played by expansionist states and great powers on the lands of the fallen Ottoman Empire and showed its strength to maintain its existence, is a military, diplomatic, and political victory. Today, the Republic of Türkiye, celebrating its 100th year, was established on this virtue extracted by great Atatürk from the spirit of the Turkish nation, who said, ‘Independence is my character,’ and it will continue to live,” President Ersin Tatar wrote in the special book.
He said that both the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people will continue to keep the fire of independence, alive and burning.
“This notion of independence and freedom, which is the essence of the Turkish spirit from Central Asia to Anatolia, was also expressed in our National Anthem with the line ‘Who would dare to put me in chains, they will shatter,’ penned by Mehmet Akif Ersoy,” he said.
He said Türkiye, which neighboured the TRNC, with its technology advancing towards the future, providing security with its defence capabilities, was an indispensable stability factor for both the region and the TRNC.
“From Korea to Cyprus, from Libya to Karabakh, from Palestine to Bosnia, in any conflict, we side with the right and the just, and we accept it as Turkish Cypriots, just as we accept it from the Republic of Türkiye, especially its leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Turkish Cypriots are grateful to you,” Tatar concluded.
Türkiye Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu for his part wrote that he was honoured to be in the spiritual presence of the great leader, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, excited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic which was his greatest legacy.
“The preservation of the unity and solidarity of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has become indispensable for ensuring justice, prosperity, peace, and stability in our region and in the world in a time when our world faces challenging times,” he wrote.
He said that they wholeheartedly believe that the second century of our Republic will be the ‘Century of Türkiye.’
Meanwhile, the Turkish ambassador hosted a reception late in the evening at the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa.