The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly, Zorlu Töre, held talks with the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Türkiye, General Metin Gürak, who paid his first official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after assuming office.

The meeting which took place in the Assembly’s Honour Hall was also attended by the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Command, Major General Sebahattin Kılıç, as well as the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu, and other officials.

Expressing that the Turkish Cypriots had yearned for Turkish soldiers for 96 years after the Ottoman Empire’s withdrawal from the island, Töre said that the joy and excitement of the Turkish soldiers setting foot on Cyprus at dawn on July 20 was deeply felt.

“Our eternal unity will hopefully continue” he said.

Stating that they believed in the concept of “army and nation”, Töre said that he saw himself not just as a deputy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but also as a deputy of the Turkish nation.

Reminding that the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo and some circles were working to get the Turkish army out of Cyprus, the Parliamentary Speaker however noted that no one can change the course of history.

“We will continue on our way in the TRNC with the Turkish nation, the Turkish army and our freedom fighters,” Töre said.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriots accepted the words “Independence is my character” expressed by Atatürk as their motto, he stressed “we are one and together with the motherland and the Turkish nation.”

Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff, General Metin Gürak for his part stressed that Cyprus was a national issue for them, adding that they will always be by the side of and support the Turkish Cypriots as they have been before.

General Gürak also expressed that the presence of the armed forces in Cyprus was a guarantee for peace and security.

He added that he was greatly pleased to make his first visit to the TRNC.