Delivering remarks to reporters during his visit, Erdoğan voiced his pleasure to be in the Island on the 37th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

“After having seen the Closed Maraş, I thought ‘Why has this beautiful closed Maraş area, as the North and the South, been kept closed to the local people?’” Erdoğan said.

“It is not possible to digest the injustice done to the Northern Cyprus”

“The international perspective has never acknowledged the Northern Cyprus as an interlocutor in fair sharing,” Erdoğan said.

“Although the South did not abide by the decisions taken during the talks in Bürgenstock and by the refedandum, they virtually condemned the North, and made the South a member of the European Union. As a person who was personally involved in the talks and negotiations then, it is not possible to digest the injustice done to the Northern Cyprus. Now, we have to take the matters into our own hands. Therefore, with this step we have taken in the Closed Maraş today, the step taken 15 days ago regarding the Closed Maraş, and the works being done here, a new process has been initiated. The true owners of this place are actually well-known and now, this place is waiting for the day it will meet with its true owners.”

Congratulating President Ersin Tatar of the TRNC on his decision to reopen the Closed Maraş area, Erdoğan underlined that Turkey will stand in solidarity with the TRNC every step of the way.

Erdoğan was accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Chairman Devlet Bahçeli of the Nationalist Movement Party during his visit. (ILKHA)