“HIGH TIME FOR RECOGNITION OF TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS” – Chief of Mission Dilsad SENOL @ 40th Anniversary of Establishment of TRNC

Tazeen Akhtar

Chief of Mission of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Pakistan, H.E. Dilşad SENOL hosted a reception on the auspicious occasion of 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic at Serena Hotels Islamabad on 15 Nov 2023 .

Senior government officials, Parliamentarians, Diplomats of friendly and brotherly countries including Turkiye, Businessmen Community, Civil Society and Media persons attended the event and expressed their solidarity with TRNC and its statehood.

They included H.E Mehmet Pacaci, Ambassador of Republic of Turkiye, H.E Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Republic of Kazakhstan, diplomats from Turkic speaking countries, Defense Attache of Iraq and other countries, Chairman Defence Committi of Senate of Pakistan Mr. Mushahid Hussain, Deputy General Secretary of Inter Parliamentary Union Senator Sitara Ayaz, Former Ombudsperson for Anti Harassment against Women, Kashmala Tariq, Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, Former Minister Information Nisar Memon, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Religious Affairs Tahir Ashrafi and many other notable personalities graced the reception with their presence.

Chief of Mission Ms Dilsad SENOL shared the history of the day in her welcome speech. She said , “4 decades ago, Turkish Cypriot people proclaimed their independent state as a concrete expression of their rightful freedom and sovereignty resisting against all attempts made to eliminate Turkish Cypriot people’s legitimate political will and rightful existence on the island of Cyprus (situated in Mediterranean Sea). Over the years, we have maintained peace and tranquility on the island by safeguarding our values, beliefs, and national identity, with steadfast support from our motherland Türkiye and Anatolian people.”

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She shed light on the substantial progress the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has achieved in various domains, including democracy, economy, social equality, and human rights. She said, “Our nation stands at the forefront of the Eastern Mediterranean in higher education and tourism, two pivotal sectors driving our economy. As already an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries as well as Economic Cooperation Organisation, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus lastly joined hands and hearts with the Organisation of Turkic States in 2022, which is a rising international actor.”

Ms Dilsad SENOL added, “Turning to the Cyprus issue, it is a well-known fact that 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. These efforts aimed at reaching 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 with the co-owners of the island, the Turkish Cypriot people. This proved one more time that trying to reach a solution with the existing parameters is 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 2021, which would bring the much-needed stability, security and cooperation in and around our island with a win-win approach, She stated.

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“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 probable formal negotiations is a prerequisite.”

This is the only way 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. It is a mere fact that, even today, the Greek Cypriot side continues its efforts to obstruct the Turkish Cypriot people from engaging in relations with the international community, even in the fields of sports, culture, education, health and similar humanitarian fields.

She mentioned, “In this context, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of our Motherland Türkiye, has made a historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly last year calling on the international community to put an end to the unjust persecution of the Turkish Cypriot People who are being isolated from the rest of the world with restrictions which clearly run counter to United Nations principles, and to formally recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.His Excellency President Erdoğan has repeated this call at the 78th UN General Assembly meeting two months ago and urged the international community to recognize TRNC’s sovereignty and establish diplomatic, political, and economic ties. This is a true reflection of the support given to our realistic approach by our motherland Türkiye.”

Ms SENOL also quoted Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, who emphasizes at every platform : “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”.

She stressed that it is high time for the international community to abandon the unjust and inhumane isolations imposed against Turkish Cypriot people and acknowledge their inherent rights.It is high time for the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

She expressed gratitude on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People to their motherland, Republic of Türkiye, for her unwavering support to our country as well as the brotherly state of Pakistan for her all-time support in our cause.

She prayed that Allah Almighty rest the souls of our martyrs who gave their lives for the independence of the Turkish Cypriots and expressed respect and gratitude to all the Veterans of the Republic.

National anthems of both states were played at the event. The Chief of Mission cut the cake of the ceremony along with Ambassadors and Pakistani guests. Chief of Mission appreciated the cooperation of Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in performance of her services to enhancing the bilateral relations and mutual cooperation.