UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEP AKDAG
By Murat Demirci and Enes Duran
LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) – The 34th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is being celebrated on Wednesday.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag, Secretary-General of Turkish Presidency Fahri Kasirga, TRNC Spokesperson Sibel Siber and TRNC Prime Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun extended their greetings to Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci at the presidential palace.
A ceremony was organized in front of Ataturk monument in the capital Lefkosa, where a minute of silence was observed, which was followed by Turkish national anthem.
Akinci wrote in the notebook of monument: “Dear Ataturk, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is 34 years-old today. Turkish Cypriots, who willingly adopted your principles and ideas, continue their struggle to build a safe future on this land taking root.”
Later, Akinci also attended and addressed a ceremony held at Dr. Fazil Kucuk Boulevard.
Reminding a co-existence in the island, Akinci reiterated a common solution for the Cyprus issue.
“It should be known that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will live together in Cyprus. A solution without the permission of the Turkish people is not acceptable,” Akinci told the attendees.
“It is out of question for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to allow a pursuit [for solution] to continue fruitlessly for another 50 years, ” he added.
Attending the same ceremony, Akdag emphasized that Turkey would continue to defend legitimate rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots in the east Mediterranean.
“Nobody should fall into wrong ideas, or dreams. There are two communities in the island and any step to be taken should be in accordance with this [fact],” Akdag said, adding: “We won’t allow Greeks to lay a unilateral claim on the island “.
As part of the anniversary, ceremonies are being held across the capital.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also extended greetings in a message posted on Twitter.
“I congratulate the 34th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is the most valuable achievement of the Turkish Cypriot people’s legitimate struggle. Motherland Turkey will always continue to support the Turkish Cypriots,” Cavusoglu said.
The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared on Nov. 15, 1983. It is currently recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.
