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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar sharply criticized on Wednesday a military parade held by the Greek Cypriot administration in Nicosia, declaring that "Greek domination has no place in these lands" and accusing Greek Cypriots of attempting to subjugate Turkish Cypriots.
The Greek Cypriot administration held a military parade in South Nicosia to mark what it calls the "independence day of the Republic of Cyprus."
The ceremony, attended by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, featured Greek F-16 fighter jets and included high-level Greek officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Thanasis Davakis and Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis.
President Tatar characterized Christodoulides' remarks at the ceremony as "the clearest indication of the domination and imposition politics that the Greek side has been pursuing for a long time."
"Their only vision for the future is to put the Turkish Cypriot people under the yoke and force us to accept their maximalist goals," Tatar stated.
"The participation of Greek warplanes in the ceremonies, talking about peace on one side while displaying their new weapons against our people on the other, is the clearest expression of this mentality," he noted.
The TRNC president added, "Despite this, there are still those who ignore this intention. There are those who try to market Greek domination to the people as a solution. But everyone should know that the Turkish Cypriot people will never surrender their will to anyone."
The Turkish Cypriot president stated that the Greek Cypriot side is continuing "Hellenism propaganda" in Cyprus, claiming this mentality aims to ignore the Turkish Cypriot people and force them to give up their state.
"Against this propaganda, our people stand shoulder to shoulder with motherland Türkiye," Tatar declared.
Tatar underscored that the Turkish Cypriot people's path is drawn with their own state, stating: "The symbol of the Turkish Cypriot people's will is their own state. This vision is most clearly supported by the statements and decisions of the highest offices in Türkiye."
He specifically referenced Türkiye's National Security Council's recent statement, calling it "not only support for our vision but also the strongest response to Greek and Greek Cypriot threats."
Tatar reminded of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's decision dated July 18, 2024, underlining Türkiye's strong support for the two-state solution vision.
He also noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the international community to recognize the TRNC at the United Nations General Assembly for the past four years.
While offering a message of reconciliation and cooperation, Tatar stated that just and sustainable peace in Cyprus can only be built on concrete realities on the ground.
"No one can deny the existence of two states, two peoples, and two democracies in Cyprus. If these realities are accepted, our island becomes an island of peace, tranquility, and prosperity," he said.
However, he warned: "If the Greek Cypriot side continues to arm itself, maintains an aggressive blockade policy to preserve isolation, and does not give up its unilateral activities, whatever is necessary will be done to protect our people's rights. This is our constitutional duty."
Tatar concluded by emphasizing that the Turkish Cypriot people continue their path confidently under Türkiye's effective and actual guarantorship, reiterating: "Greek domination has no place in these lands and never will."
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