The 42nd TRNC anniversary was marked in Islamabad with a reception at the Marriott Hotel, beginning with a minute of silence for the victims of the tragic Turkish C-130 military transport crash in Georgia on Wednesday, 12 November. The ceremony continued with the national anthems of Türkiye and Pakistan and a speech by TRNC Ambassador to Islamabad, Ms. Buket Kop.
In her address Ambassador Kop said 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 the community’s determination and resilience. Her remarks at the TRNC anniversary reception stressed the Turkish Cypriot struggle for survival and statehood.
Ambassador Kop recalled more than 50 years of negotiations aimed at a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality, noting that no agreement has been achieved due to the lack of common ground between the two sides on the island. She argued that continuing the same approach has failed to produce results for both communities.
The ambassador urged a new, realistic approach that reflects current realities on the ground, pointing to the Turkish Cypriot side’s vision presented during the Cyprus talks in Geneva in April 2021. That vision calls for recognition of the Turkish Cypriot people’s inherent rights, including their sovereign equality and equal international status.
Ambassador Kop emphasized that the root of the Cyprus issue is a status problem: the international community continues to treat the Greek Cypriot administration as if it represents the entire island while the Turkish Cypriot people remain isolated and unrecognized as more than a “community.” She said meaningful negotiations can only begin once this inequality is addressed.
Concluding her remarks at the TRNC anniversary event, Ambassador Kop expressed heartfelt gratitude for Pakistan’s significant and meaningful support for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people, underlining the importance of Islamabad as a venue for conveying the Turkish Cypriot position to regional partners and friends.
