"Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots have never shied away from negotiation"
Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey
20.07.2023
Speaking at a ceremony held for the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day in the TRNC, President Erdoğan said: "Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots have never shied away from negotiation or reconciliation. Despite knowing the oppression, we have neither pursued revenge nor held grudges. We have sincerely sought ways for the two elements of the Island to live together in peace."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at a ceremony held for the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Commencing his speech by voicing his pleasure over being in the TRNC on the 49th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, President Erdoğan noted that the period between 1963 and 1974 was unfortunately a period of bloodshed, tears and massacres for the Turkish Cypriots, and that pro-enosis circles, who vowed to leave not a single Turk in the Island, subverted peace and tranquility. "They oppressed the Turkish Cypriots by trampling on human dignity and conscience," the President said.
"THE TURKISH ARMY HAS BROUGHT PEACE AND STABILITY TO THE ISLAND"
Underscoring that the Turkish Cypriots were forced to leave their homes, homeland, families and their very lives, President Erdoğan stated: "We witnessed horrible massacres here on these beautiful lands. We saw in a very painful manner on these lands what a sick mentality blinded by grudge and hatred could do. Everything was made, every oppression was carried out, but the Turkish nation never bowed down to oppressors. They could not break the Turkish Cypriots' determination to resist and will to live free. They could not take into account that Türkiye, by taking all the risks, would stand with the Turkish Cypriot people."
Pointing out that the Turkish army, with the history they made by fighting shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters, had brought peace, stability, democracy and tranquility to the Cyprus island, President Erdoğan added: "The Turkish Cypriots, whom they sought to wipe out, today live in safety under the roof of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and under the shadow of their own flag. With Türkiye's unshakable support, the Turkish Cypriots look to the future in a more hopeful manner."
Stressing that July 20 is the symbol of the preservation of the Turkish Cypriot people's sovereign rights and equal status, President Erdoğan said that the unrealistic mindset that sees itself as the only owner of Cyprus still maintains its presence in the south of the Island, and continued as follows: "The new leader of the Greek Cypriots poses under the flags of the Enosis-EOKA. They even object to the identity testing of the innocent people, regardless of unarmed, children, elderly, or women, whom the EOKA terrorist organization massacred and buried in mass graves. In this way, they try to conceal the reality, namely the atrocities and massacres they have carried out, from the entire world."
"WE WANT A JUST AND VIABLE RESOLUTION"
"They will not succeed no matter what they do", stated President Erdoğan, and went on to say: "We will neither forget, nor let anyone forget, the massacres committed on these lands. We will never allow the world to forget them, either. History has clearly shown that the Greek Cypriots have no tolerance for the Turkish Cypriots. That is why the negotiations, where the Turkish side has for over half a century made every effort for a resolution, have yielded no results. Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots have never shied away from negotiation or reconciliation. Despite knowing the oppression, we have neither pursued revenge nor held grudges."
Stressing that they have sincerely sought ways for the two elements of the Island to live together in peace, President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye's sole purpose is to make permanent the peace that it brought to the Island in 1974.
"We want a just and viable resolution," stated the President, and added: "While all the realities in the Island are plain as day, everyone should already understand that a federal resolution is not possible."
"TÜRKİYE WILL ALWAYS BE THE ASSURANCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS' PRESENCE AND SECURITY"
Further stating that the vision displayed by TRNC President Ersin Tatar in Geneva in 2021 should be immediately responded to, President Erdoğan said: "It is out of the question to launch a new negotiation process unless the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots are acknowledged. All the Greek side, which usurps the name of Cyprus Republic, does is to conceal their fault and complain about us to the third parties, the European Union in particular. Just as they do not acknowledge that the Turkish Cypriots are a separate equal and sovereign people, they are upset by the fact that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and homeland Türkiye are in a unity of affection and cause. They saw how strong these ties were on July 20, 1974."
Noting that Türkiye will always be the assurance of the Turkish Cypriots' presence, security, well-being and prosperity, President Erdoğan went on to say: "No matter what the circumstances will be, we will never abstain from our efforts for the reaffirmation of the Turkish Cypriots' equal sovereignty and equal international status. Our works will continue with the aim of lifting the illegal and inhumane isolation and embargo you have been exposed to."
Drawing attention to the impossibility of ignoring or excluding the Turkish Cypriots, the ancient and fundamental element of the island, from the world for eternity, President Erdoğan said: "That is why I hereby reiterate the historic call which I made to the entire world at the United Nations General Assembly: Stop turning your back on the realities of the island and recognize at once the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus."
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