Mrs. Dilsad Senol expresses gratitude to Turkiye and Pakistan for their consistent support
Naveed Ahmad Khan Photos by Raja Farid
Islamabad: The Embassy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) hosted a grand reception commemorating its 40th anniversary. Mrs. Dilsad Senol, the TRNC’s Representative in Islamabad, and her husband, Akýn Can Þenol, warmly welcomed esteemed guests.
Distinguished attendees included Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Defense Committee, Faisal Karim Kundi, Minister of State for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety of Pakistan, Ms. Kashmala Tariq, Federal Ombudsperson for Harassment against Women, Senator Dr. Shehzad Waseem, Former Minister Nisar Memon, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi diplomats, businessmen, media personalities, and Dr. Mehmet Pacaci, the Ambassador of Turkiye to Pakistan.
The ceremony featured a cake-cutting ceremony following the national anthems of both Pakistan and TRNC.
During her speech, Mrs. Dilsad Senol, the TRNC Representative, reflected on the declaration of independence made by the Turkish Cypriot people four decades ago. She emphasized their resilience in preserving their political will and existence despite attempts to suppress them on the island of Cyprus. She highlighted the significant progress made by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in democracy, economy, social equality, human rights, higher education, and tourism, positioning the nation as a prominent figure in the Eastern Mediterranean.
She said “Today, I take pride in highlighting the substantial progress the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has achieved in various domains, including democracy, economy, social equality, and human rights. 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”.
Mrs Dilsad said 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 reluctance 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+UNinformal 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.
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 of 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.
In this context, 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.
President Erdoğan 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.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, also emphasizes at every platform and I quote: “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”.
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.
On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, I would like to reiterate our gratitude to our 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.
On this meaningful occasion, may Allah Almighty rest the souls of our martyrs who gave their lives for the independence of the Turkish Cypriots and I would like to express our respect and gratitude to all our Veterans.
Thank you for gracing our reception with your presence. I wish you all an enjoyable evening.
HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!