20.07.2025 20:41
In his speech at the "Official Ceremony of July 20 Peace and Freedom Day" held in Nicosia, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that they stand behind the vision of a two-state solution in Cyprus, saying, "The Turkish Cypriots have no more 60 years to lose. We can no longer waste time with the United Nations parameters based on the exhausted federation model."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at the "July 20 Peace and Freedom Day Official Ceremony" held in the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Nicosia.
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements are as follows:
I am very proud to be with you on the 51st anniversary of the Peace Operation, which brought peace and tranquility to the Turkish Cypriot people. I thank all our brothers and sisters who embraced us in Nicosia. I respectfully commemorate our martyrs who lost their lives during the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. I express my gratitude to our heroic veterans.
On this occasion, I gratefully remember the late Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, who took on the resolute leadership of the Cyprus Peace Operation, our Deputy Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, who dedicated his life to the Cyprus cause, Alparslan Türkeş, Adnan Menderes, and Fatih Rüştü Zorlu. I also remember Rauf Denktaş with mercy and salute his memory with respect.
"THOSE WHO DREAM OF ENOSIS HAVE FAILED"
First of all, I want to emphasize this. The Cyprus Peace Operation is a legitimate step taken within the framework of guarantor obligations against systematic violations against the Turkish Cypriot people. It has thwarted those who dreamed of ENOSIS together with our Cypriot brothers and sisters. Peace and tranquility have come to the island.
The dark period that began with EOKA terrorism in 1955 and lasted until 1974, which kept the Turkish Cypriots under pressure, is engraved in the hearts of our nation. The Turkish Cypriot people, who have been the original element of the island since 1571, were forced to live like refugees in their own homeland. It is not easy to describe that horror.
"THEY ALWAYS AVOIDED THE NEGOTIATION TABLES"
This land, which is a piece of heaven, witnessed days of brutality that words cannot even describe. Now some people come out and say, 'let's completely leave the past behind.' But how can we forget the beach massacre, the Christmas brutality, and the young people who fell to the ground during the Erenköy resistance? Is it possible to forget the fighters from each of your families in the Bayraktar Turkish Brigade? How can we forget the suffering inflicted on the Turkish Cypriots and the embargoes imposed?
No one should take offense; we will never forget what has been done to our Turkish Cypriot brothers. The Greeks always chased after a solution because they knew they would not be allowed to own the island alone. They avoided the negotiation tables. Every time they overturned the table, they claimed they wanted a solution. They tried to force the Turkish Cypriots, whom they viewed as a minority, into their so-called state. Against a federal solution, the Greeks have insisted on a unitary state.
"THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE NO 60 YEARS TO LOSE"
They rejected all solution proposals prepared on the basis of a bi-communal federal model. The Turkish Cypriot people have no 60 years to lose. We can no longer waste time on UN parameters based on the exhausted federation model. Being persistent is of no benefit to anyone. We fully support the vision of a two-state solution put forward by Mr. Tatar. We are calling on the world. The international community must recognize the TRNC. Diplomatic, political, and economic relations must be established as soon as possible. Direct flights and trade must be opened. No matter what anyone says, the Turkish Cypriots will continue to live freely in their own homeland forever. No power can prevent this. We will build the TRNC, which no one will even dare to challenge.