A reception at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad marked the TRNC anniversary, beginning with a minute of silence for the victims of the Turkish C-130 military transport crash in Georgia on Wednesday 12 November, followed by the national anthems of Türkiye and Pakistan and remarks by Ambassador Buket Kop.
In her address Ambassador Kop emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot people exercised their right to self-determination and established a state within their own borders, describing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a testament to their determination, resilience and sustained struggle for survival.
She noted that more than 50 years of talks aimed at achieving a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality have not produced an agreement, pointing to a persistent lack of common ground between the two sides on the island.
Ambassador Kop argued that the time has come for a new, realistic approach that reflects realities on the ground and recalled the Turkish Cypriot vision presented in Geneva in April 2021, which calls for recognition of the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people including sovereign equality and equal international status.
Highlighting the root cause of the Cyprus issue as a status problem, she said the Greek Cypriot administration continues to be treated internationally as if it represents the entire island while Turkish Cypriots are regarded as a ‘community’ and remain isolated and unrecognized. She underlined that meaningful negotiations can only begin once the inequality between the sides is rectified.
Ambassador Kop concluded by expressing heartfelt gratitude for Pakistan’s significant support for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people, a gesture noted by attendees at the Islamabad reception.
