Ahmet Göksan

In the pursuit of making Anatolia our homeland, we fought against great powers of the world. Today, we proudly safeguard our country from external threats. The names of those who opposed us internally have faded into obscurity. Following an arduous struggle, the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed to the world on October 29, 1923. It is our privilege to celebrate its centennial together. Here's to many more centuries of prosperity.

A Stride Towards Recognition

Inspired by Atatürk's struggle for liberation in Anatolia, Turkish Cypriots resisted attacks from British rulers and local Greeks in Cyprus. The Greeks asserting sovereignty over Turkish Cypriots paved the way for the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Forty years ago, the TRNC was founded with unanimous approval from the Turkish Cypriot Federated Assembly of Cyprus. They declared Turkish Cypriot's independence to the world.

Founded on February 19, 1959, the Republic of Cyprus recognized Turks and Greeks as equal partners. However, after genocidal events on the island, UNSC Resolution No. 186 on March 4, 1964, disregarded Turkish Cypriots, perpetuating the lack of a solution. Resolutions 541 and 550 by the UNSC paved the way for non-recognition of the TRNC. Recently, the TRNC attained observer membership in the Organisation of Turkic States. Yet, challenges persist, emphasizing the need for member states' recognition or revisiting resolutions.

The Name Change Initiative

For over 60 years, the UN Secretary-General's solution proposals for the island conflict remain obscure. The suggestion in the Annan Plan document, proposing a possible solution if the name "Turkish Cypriot State" replaces the TRNC, appears impractical. To prevent this anachronism, unified national action is imperative.

A name change to the Turkish Republic of Cyprus to eliminate unrecognized status is debated. However, such a change might be perceived as a concession, hindering recognition. The mere alteration of our name won't suffice; official recognition must stem from nations. While supporting honorary memberships in international institutions, true recognition must commence from these countries. We assert that a name change is futile, and we stand firm. Let's not backtrack after a name change, only to face UNSC resolutions urging a return to Crans Montana negotiations.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey and the 40th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we aspire to reach many more milestones in the years ahead.