39th Republic Day of TRNC

Full text of TRNC Islamabad Representative H.E.Mrs.Dilsad Senol speech:

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,

Welcome to our reception on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

I would like to start my speech by expressing heartfelt condolences to our motherland Türkiye over the death of six people in a malicious terrorist attack that took place in İstanbul, which was the reason we postponed our reception which was supposed to be held on 15th. There was no way that we could have made a celebration as the hearts of Turkish Cypriots are always beating together with the Turkish people,
especially in such difficult times.

May Allah the Almighty give the bereaved families of the departed souls the strength and courage to bear the loss of their beloved ones and we pray for speedy recovery of those injured.

Distinguished Guests,

39 years ago, we established our state, which is the concrete expression of Turkish Cypriot people’s freedom and sovereignty with the support of motherland Türkiye and the Anatolian people. The Turkish Cypriots have been able to reach these days by protecting their values, beliefs and national identity, despite all the tragic events of the past.

I am proud to say that, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus progressed in many fields with its democracy, economy, respect to social equality, human rights and independence. Our country has been at the forefront of the Eastern Mediterranean in Higher Education and Tourism, which are the two main sectors of our economy.

As already an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries as well as Economic Cooperation Organisation, we welcome the very recent desicion of admission of our country into the Organisation of Turkic States which is a rising international power.

In regard to Cyprus Problem, many efforts have been made and failed over the past five decades through numerous rounds of United Nations facilitated negotiations, despite the continuous good will and constructive approach shown by the Turkish Cypriot side.

The Turkish Cypriot people are asking for the formal recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the acknowledgement of their inherent rights

These efforts aimed to reach an agreement under a “bi-zonal and bi-communal federation” based on political equality of the two sides. The last-ditch effort in this direction ended with no result in Crans Montana in 2017 due to Greek Cypriot reluctuncy to share power and prosperity. This proved one more time that trying to reach a solution with the existing parameters was yielding no results.

In line with the calls made by UN Secretary General “to think outside the box”, we have tabled our new vision regarding the solution of Cyprus issue at the 5+UN informal meeting in Geneva in April last year, which would bring the much-needed stability, security and cooperation in and around our island with a win-win approach.

The essence of our proposal is to secure the inherent sovereign equality and equal international status of the State of the Turkish Cypriot people, which would constitute a new basis for the parties to start formal negotiations for a freely negotiated and mutually acceptable cooperative relationship. Experience in the past negotiations undoubtedly suggests that establishing equilibrium between the two sides, prior to possible formal negotiations is a prerequisite.

Leveling the playing field means to rectify decades long injustice done against the Turkish Cypriot people. The injustice serves no purpose but treats the Greek Cypriot side as if it represents the entire island and allows it to perpetuate the status quo at the expense of the Turkish Cypriot people who live under isolation.

President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan, in his speech at the session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022, has made a historic call to the “international community to put an end to the unjust persecution of the Turkish Cypriot People who are being isolated from the world with embargoes in a manner which runs contrary to the United Nations principles, and to formally recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as soon as possible”.

On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, I would like to reiterate our gratitude to our motherland, Republic of Türkiye, for her unwavering support to our country as well as the brotherly state of Pakistan for her support in our cause

Following this historic call, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, at his speech at the Annual Coordination Meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation in New York in September 2022, stated that “The Cyprus issue has been on the agenda of the international community for almost 60 years now and it is so, because the whole issue has been misdiagnosed.

The Cyprus issue is an issue of status. The type of negotiations that would bring results can be between the two equals, two existing States on the island, based on their sovereign equality and equal international status.

This is why the Turkish Cypriot people are asking from the international community to abandon the unjust and inhumane isolations imposed against them.

This is why, the Turkish Cypriot people are asking for the formal recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the acknowledgement of their inherent rights.

On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, I would like to reiterate our gratitude to our motherland, Republic of Türkiye, for her unwavering support to our country as well as the brotherly state of Pakistan for her support in our cause.

On this meaningful occasion, may Allah Almighty rest the souls of those who gave their lives for the independence of the Turkish Cypriots and I would like to express our respect and gratitude to all our Veterans.

Thank you very much once again for honouring our reception and wish you all enjoy the rest of the evening.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!