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Islamabad: Th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was commemorated with a dignified reception at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
The ceremony commenced with a one-minute silence in honour of the martyrs of the Turkish C-130 military aircraft crash in Georgia on 12 November. This was followed by the national anthems of Türkiye and Pakistan, after which TRNC Ambassador to Islamabad, Ms. Buket Kop, addressed the gathering.
In her remarks, Ambassador Kop stated that the Turkish Cypriot people had exercised their right to self-determination by establishing their own state within their own borders. She said the TRNC stands as a symbol of the Turkish Cypriot people’s resilience, determination, and steadfast struggle for existence.
Ambassador Kop noted that despite more than five decades of negotiations to achieve a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality, no settlement has been reached due to the absence of common ground between the two sides on the island.
Calling for a new and realistic approach, she recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had presented a fresh vision during the Geneva Cyprus talks in April 2021. This proposal seeks recognition of the Turkish Cypriot people’s inherent rights, including their sovereign equality and equal international status.
She further highlighted that the core issue stems from the imbalance in status, as the Greek Cypriot administration continues to be treated internationally as the representative of the entire island, while Turkish Cypriots are viewed merely as a “community,” leaving them isolated and unrecognized.
“Meaningful negotiations can only begin when this inequality is addressed,” Ambassador Kop emphasized.
Concluding her speech, she extended heartfelt gratitude to Pakistan for its consistent and meaningful support for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.
