There are elections in Northern Cyprus

Cyprus is the most important island in the Eastern Mediterranean. This island has witnessed many events throughout history. During the reign of Osman, Islamic armies conquered the island. Cyprus, which remained under Islamic rule for centuries, later fell into non-Muslim hands. In 1571, the Ottoman army under the command of Lala Mustafa Pasha reconquered the island. It was such a conquest that 70,000 people were martyred. The Ottomans lost a fleet for Cyprus. Indeed, the Ottoman Grand Vizier, Sokollu Mehmet Pasha, emphasized the significance of the island's conquest by telling the Venetian ambassador after the defeat at Lepanto, "We cut off your arm by taking Cyprus, but you shaved off our beard by defeating us at Lepanto. A severed arm cannot be replaced by a new one, but a trimmed beard grows back thicker."

Until 1878, the island of Cyprus was under Ottoman rule. After the 93 War, the Treaty of San Stefano (Yeşilköy), a complete and utterly devastating treaty for the Ottoman Empire, was signed. This treaty contained very harsh provisions. Sultan Abdulhamid II intervened and exploited his diplomatic genius to have this treaty annulled. He sided with the British, had the treaty annulled and replaced it with the Treaty of Berlin. In return for this support, the British were granted a lease of the island of Cyprus. It's important to emphasize that the island remained in Ottoman ownership until World War I. In 1914, the British unlawfully annexed the island. At the time, the Ottoman administration was under the Committee of Union and Progress. Due to the circumstances of the time, this occupation remained unchallenged. British influence was evident in Cyprus after this date. In 1955, the militant Greeks living on the island took action for Enosis, or union with Greece. The gang known as Eoka began attacks against the Turkish people living on the island, committing brutal massacres. As these attacks escalated, Turkish Cypriots formed the "Cyprus is Turkish Party" under the leadership of Dr. Fazı Küçük. The Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) was established to defend themselves against the attacks of the EOKA gang. TMT defended Turkish Cypriots against EOKA for years. This struggle lasted until July 1974. The Turkish Army launched a peace operation, liberating Turkish Cypriots from EOKA oppression. This operation paved the way for the establishment of the Turkish State of Northern Cyprus. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in 1983, and Rauf Denktaş, who risked his life for the independence of Cyprus, was elected President. After 1983, the Cyprus issue remained a pressing issue. The island's status was debated for years. In the most recent elections held in 2020, Ersin Tatar was elected the 5th President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Ersin Tatar acted in coordination with Turkey . He always defended the rights of Turkish Cypriots in international meetings.

Northern Cyprus is crucial to Türkiye's presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is a symbol of Türkiye's sovereignty and rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. The people of Northern Cyprus must not compromise their independence and future. Therefore, the re-election of Mr. Ersin Tatar is essential.

Ramazan Akbaş \ Timeturk