Group of Greek Cypriots tried to attack TRNC president Ersin Tatar in London

According to report by local broadcaster, BRTK, an attempt was made by Greek Cypriots living in London to attack TRNC President Ersin Tatar while he was in London on a visit this week.

Ersin Tatar who arrived in London on Monday, March, 27 to hold a variety of contacts in London was attacked by Greek Cypriot protestors while trying to enter King’s College in London where he was to give a conference on the Cyprus issue, BRTK reported on Thursday.

While Greek Cypriot student protestors tried to physically attack the president’s convoy and shouted slogans against Turkey and Tatar, Turkish students applauded the President’s entry into and exit from the college.

British undercover police officers accompanying Tatar's convoy prevented a possible attack by keeping protesters away.

Tatar described the actions of the protestors as proof that the Greek Cypriot mentality has not changed and cannot tolerate the Turkish Cypriot people’s voice being heard.

He described the protest as “very ugly and unseemly” and noted that the Greek Cypriots could not tolerate the Turkish Cypriot people being given the opportunity to tell their side of the story and express themselves.

Noting that young Greek Cypriots carrying out this protest just proves that the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side has not changed, Tatar said that they will continue on their way without giving up and standing their ground.

He said that he was very proud to be able to make evaluations regarding the future of the Cyprus issue and speak about the Turkish Cypriot side’s new politics with the students at King’s College, and added that they will continue with their efforts to make the Turkish Cypriot peoples voice heard at every platform.

He said that despite there being protests in London the Turkish Cypriot side continues to work towards finding a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.

He stated that he believed that the university students attending the conference would understand the injustices suffered by the Turkish Cypriots and their struggle and would support them in their struggle and that the Turkish Cypriot people will never accept the Greek Cypriot administration and will continue their struggle for new politics within this framework and emphasized that there are two states and two peoples on the island.

Emphasizing that the two states can share resources and create a peaceful and sustainable structure in the region by working in cooperation, Tatar said that they have therefore put forward a new, sovereign equal policy based on two states.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot people approached every plan peacefully and despite saying “yes” to the Annan Plan, the isolation continued, and the Greek Cypriots were accepted into the EU.

Tatar emphasized that the time has come for the injustices and the realities of Cyprus to be seen.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot people expect justice from the international community, Tatar noted that the TRNC state is a peaceful, democratic state with its institutions.

He said that there is no turning back from the new policy put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side and that the TRNC will continue on its way with the support of Motherland Türkiye.

The TRNC occupies an important and strategic place in the Eastern Mediterranean, Tatar said and added that the Turkish Cypriot people will never give up their sovereignty and state, they will develop their state together with Motherland Türkiye and take its place as a strong state in the region.

BRTK