Commencing his speech by voicing his pleasure over being in the TRNC on the 49th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, President Erdoğan noted that the period between 1963 and 1974 was unfortunately a period of bloodshed, tears and massacres for the Turkish Cypriots, and that pro-enosis circles, who vowed to leave not a single Turk in the Island, subverted peace and tranquility. “They oppressed the Turkish Cypriots by trampling on human dignity and conscience,” the President said. “THE TURKISH ARMY HAS BROUGHT PEACE AND STABILITY TO THE ISLAND” Underscoring that the Turkish Cypriots were forced to leave their homes, homeland, families and their very lives, President Erdoğan stated: “We witnessed horrible massacres here on these beautiful lands. We saw in a very painful manner on these lands what a sick mentality blinded by grudge and hatred could do. Everything was made, every oppression was carried out, but the Turkish nation never bowed down to oppressors. They could not break the Turkish Cypriots’ determination to resist and will to live free. They could not take into account that Türkiye, by taking all the risks, would stand with the Turkish Cypriot people.” Pointing out that the Turkish army, with the history they made by fighting shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters, had brought peace, stability, democracy and tranquility to the Cyprus island, President Erdoğan added: “The Turkish Cypriots, whom they sought to wipe out, today live in safety under the roof of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and under the shadow of their own flag. With Türkiye’s unshakable support, the Turkish Cypriots look to the future in a more hopeful manner.” Stressing that July 20 is the symbol of the preservation of the Turkish Cypriot people’s sovereign rights and equal status, President Erdoğan said that the unrealistic mindset that sees itself as the only owner of Cyprus still maintains its presence in the south of the Island, and continued as follows: “The new leader of the Greek Cypriots poses under the flags of the Enosis-EOKA. They even object to the identity testing of the innocent people, regardless of unarmed, children, elderly, or women, whom the EOKA terrorist organization massacred and buried in mass graves. In this way, they try to conceal the reality, namely the atrocities and massacres they have carried out, from the entire world.” “WE WANT A JUST AND VIABLE RESOLUTION” “They will not succeed no matter what they do”, stated President Erdoğan, and went on to say: “We will neither forget, nor let anyone forget, the massacres committed on these lands. We will never allow the world to forget them, either. History has clearly shown that the Greek Cypriots have no tolerance for the Turkish Cypriots. That is why the negotiations, where the Turkish side has for over half a century made every effort for a resolution, have yielded no results. Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots have never shied away from negotiation or reconciliation. Despite knowing the oppression, we have neither pursued revenge nor held grudges.” Stressing that they have sincerely sought ways for the two elements of the Island to live together in peace, President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye’s sole purpose is to make permanent the peace that it brought to the Island in 1974. “We want a just and viable resolution,” stated the President, and added: “While all the realities in the Island are plain as day, everyone should already understand that a federal resolution is not possible.” “TÜRKİYE WILL ALWAYS BE THE ASSURANCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS’ PRESENCE AND SECURITY” Further stating that the vision displayed by TRNC President Ersin Tatar in Geneva in 2021 should be immediately responded to, President Erdoğan said: “It is out of the question to launch a new negotiation process unless the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots are acknowledged. All the Greek side, which usurps the name of Cyprus Republic, does is to conceal their fault and complain about us to the third parties, the European Union in particular. Just as they do not acknowledge that the Turkish Cypriots are a separate equal and sovereign people, they are upset by the fact that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and homeland Türkiye are in a unity of affection and cause. They saw how strong these ties were on July 20, 1974.” Noting that Türkiye will always be the assurance of the Turkish Cypriots’ presence, security, well-being and prosperity, President Erdoğan went on to say: “No matter what the circumstances will be, we will never abstain from our efforts for the reaffirmation of the Turkish Cypriots’ equal sovereignty and equal international status. Our works will continue with the aim of lifting the illegal and inhumane isolation and embargo you have been exposed to.” Drawing attention to the impossibility of ignoring or excluding the Turkish Cypriots, the ancient and fundamental element of the island, from the world for eternity, President Erdoğan said: “That is why I hereby reiterate the historic call which I made to the entire world at the United Nations General Assembly: Stop turning your back on the realities of the island and recognize at once the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus.”   President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the inauguration of the new terminal building and runway of Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Voicing his happiness to be attending the opening ceremony in his speech, President Erdoğan said: “I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly congratulate the 49th anniversary of the Peace Operation, whereby we cried it out to everybody, foes and friends alike, that the Turkish Cypriots’ presence on the island is eternal.” Ercan Airport, which was opened to civilian air traffic on February 3, 1975, previously had a 20 thousand m2 terminal building, 34 thousand m2 parking area and 2 thousand 755 m-long main runway, noted the President, adding that the airport has gained the capability of hosting wide-body aircraft, too, following the construction works that started in 2016. “ERCAN AIRPORT HAS THE LARGEST PASSENGER CAPACITY ON THE CYPRUS ISLAND” President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “Built on an area of 7 million 800 thousand m2, Ercan Airport has been rendered suitable for use by every type of passenger plane thanks to its 3 thousand 100 m-long new runway, compared to the previous one whose length was 2 thousand 755 meters. The new terminal is six times larger than the previous one. Thus, it is now capable of serving up to 10 million passengers at once. The new terminal building, which is more advanced and has a larger capacity, means increased contribution to tourism, as well as more investment, more income, and more employment. As of today, Ercan Airport has the largest passenger capacity on the Cyprus island.” “This masterpiece will contribute to turning the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a basin of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, into a brand in the region,” stressed the President, offering his gratitude to all who contributed to any phase of the construction works.  “THE DAYS ARE NOT DISTANT WHEN THE NEW TERMINAL BUILDING AND RUNWAY, WHICH WE ARE INAUGURATING TODAY, WILL BE USED FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS” Underscoring that Türkiye is the sole destination of direct flights from Ercan Airport because of the unjust and unlawful practices of the international community, President Erdoğan said: “The Turkish Cypriots have been offering air traffic services in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization standards in the Ercan Advisory Airspace. The Airport serves its local and foreign passengers with its advanced technology and Turkish hospitality. The days are not distant when the new terminal building and runway, which we are inaugurating today, will be used for international flights.” President Erdoğan went onto say: “I, on this occasion, invite the international community to give heed to the call made by Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General of the time, acknowledging that there is no UN Security Council resolution justifying the isolation faced by our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters, and to remove these purely political restrictions devoid of any legal basis. I reiterate my call to support the ideal of two equal states to live side by side, rather than the culture of dominance, tension, and conflict on the Cyprus island.” Marking the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, President Erdoğan remembered with grace all the martyrs and ghazis, first and foremost Martyr Major Fehmi Ercan, after whom the airport was named. President Erdoğan inaugurated the new terminal building and runway following his speech.