President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) arrived in OSTİM to attend an honorary doctorate ceremony organized by OSTİM Technical University. Before the ceremony, Tatar met with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Orhan Aydın, Board Members, Cluster Presidents, and industrialists at the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone. He stated, “There has been development in the agricultural, tourism, and construction sectors in the TRNC. There is also potential in industry. We aim to produce some light industrial products in the industrial zones we have established and will establish. The important thing is to ensure prosperity and economic added value in Cyprus. For this, your experience is very important to us.”
"We are at your service"
Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the OSTİM Board of Directors, who provided Tatar with information about the region, stated that they would share all kinds of information and experience for the TRNC and gave the message, "We are at your service."
The President of the TRNC later visited companies operating in the Turquoise Building of OSTİM Technopark Inc., and received information about their production and export activities.
President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus attended an honorary doctorate ceremony organized by OSTİM Technical University as the final part of his program. The honorary doctorate certificate was presented to Tatar by Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the OSTİM Board of Directors and Chairman of the OSTİM Technical University Board of Trustees, and Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek, Rector of OSTİM Technical University.
“Every Turk should visit Cyprus at least once in their lifetime”
Tatar gave a lecture at the ceremony titled "The Struggle for Existence of the Turkish Cypriots on the Island and Our Rights in the Eastern Mediterranean."
"I sincerely thank our President, our Rector, and the Board of Trustees of OSTİM Technical University for making such a decision and for understanding me with such honor," Ersin Tatar began, adding, "The honorary doctorate title, which expresses the importance given to the Turkish Cypriot nation and the value and importance of the work we have done, is of course a great source of pride and honor for me."
Referring to Cyprus's entry into Ottoman rule and Cypriot history, Tatar emphasized, "Every Turk should visit Cyprus at least once in their lifetime."
Ersin Tatar continued: “We are making great efforts to further strengthen the ties between the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by participating in conferences and discussions in various regions of Türkiye, at various universities, institutions and organizations, and by participating in the work of civil society organizations, so that the new generation, the youth, can get to know each other better, and so that our people who are of the same national descent ideologically and culturally can come together.”
"For us, the sacrifices and great devotion of Türkiye and the Turkish Army in Cyprus are of great importance. Because in the conduct of this great cause, from the British colonies during the Ottoman period to the Greek attacks on Cyprus, the Turkish soldier has always stood by the Turkish Cypriots. This situation is what kept us going during the years of struggle, what was a source of life for us," said Mr. Tatar, adding, "On the 100th anniversary of the Great Offensive, the struggle waged by Atatürk and his comrades against all the invaders, and their re-establishment of Anatolia as a Turkish homeland on August 30, 1922, is watched with great courage by all oppressed nations and peoples around the world. All this heroism and the struggle against the invaders has also been a great source of inspiration and strength for us."
Referring to the historical events since the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Greek sieges, and the painful losses suffered, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, stated, “It was difficult to foresee these things 50 years ago, but with recent developments, regardless of whether the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized as a state or not, what is important is that this state has its own territory, its own people, its own government, its own democracy, and official relations with the Republic of Turkey. Therefore, all these factors, with all the characteristics of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a state according to international law, grant it hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of territory in the Blue Homeland. This is very important for the nation to become even stronger.”
“The Maras initiative has brought many benefits to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”
Ersin Tatar stated that the opening of Maras, which he initiated during his time as Prime Minister and was supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has brought many benefits to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He said, “With the opening of Maras, our tourism potential has increased. Even in its current state, Maras, which was a nostalgic brand and the most distinguished tourism center of the Eastern Mediterranean 70 years ago, is land belonging to foundations. These are ancient and national lands for us. These lands were governed and developed by the Ottoman Empire after 1571. We are protecting these lands. Therefore, the opening of Maras was a very appropriate development in terms of politics, economy, and tourism.”
Emphasizing the importance of the correct policy pursued on the island of Cyprus, which is of paramount importance for the security of the Republic of Turkey, Tatar stated, “In 1974, very shortly after 1922, that is, in the last century, the Republic of Turkey was rebuilt, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus gained its liberation and independence on July 20, 1974. Thus, the foundations of our national existence in this geography were established. The establishment of the Turkish Republic by reclaiming an island that was being annexed to Greece through the correct policy has emerged as a very important and successful policy.”
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