The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus celebrated its 25th anniversary on 15 November with various ceremonies throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
President Mehmet Ali Talat delivered a speech at the main ceremony and said that it was their responsibility to ensure a safe and secure future for future generations.
Addressing the main Independence Day ceremony in Lefkosa, the President said that both he and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias possessed the necessary skill and diplomatic power to push for a solution in Cyprus.
"It is because we are well aware of our power and capabilities that we are hopeful peace and a solution in Cyprus" he added.
President Mehmet Ali Talat also said that the TRNC had left behind a quarter of a century since its establishment and had as a result evolved into a mature state.
Pointing out that Turkish Cypriots were still tried to be
punished for having set up their own state, Talat said "we need to ask
ourselves at this point. Are the Turkish Cypriot people sentenced to be
administered without a state? Would it have been easier to solve the Cyprus
Problem, had the Turkish Cypriot people not created its own administration?
More importantly where would the Turkish Cypriots after a solution had they not
created their own state and administration?"
Describing the ongoing negotiations as a 'last chance', the President pointed
out that the rights the Turkish Cypriot Side was insisting on where rights they
possessed and exercised for hundreds of years.
The President also said that the Turkish Cypriot people,
despite its determination and persistence towards reaching a settlement, were
still being unjustly made to pay the price of the non-solution on the island.
Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot Side knew clearly what it wanted out of the
negotiations process, Talat said "we are working on all fronts to achieve a
peace agreement, one that will safeguard the political equality of Turkish
Cypriots in all walks of life and guarantee their right to
self-administration."
The President also pointed out that the TRNC had been initially established in 1983 as the Turkish Cypriot leg of a future bi-communal, bi-zonal federal Cyprus Republic.
"The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was not created to reinforce the division on the island, but just the opposite, but to prepare for a federal Republic, as desired by the United Nations, the European Union and the rest of the international community.