32. Anniversary of Turkish Peace Operation, which was carried out in 20 July 1974, to prevent the fascist Greek Junta, aimed at implementing Enosis, to save Turkish Cypriot people from mass extermination and re-established the destroyed constitutional order was celebrated with ceremonies all over the TRNC. Following the first official ceremony at Bogaz Marty’s Cemetery, celebrations continued in Lefkosa with ceremonies at Marty’s Monument and Ataturk Monument.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reminding that for achieving settlement, peace and stability in Cyprus, the Northern Cyprus should be economically and socially strengthen and the welfare level of the Turkish Cypriot people must be raised said “the TRNC which, has completed its economic development, will be the guarantee for peace and settlement”

Explaining that Turkey had fulfilled its obligations towards finding a solution to the Cyprus Problem, Mr. Erdogan reminded that they envisaged the lifting of the isolations by all the sides simultaneously and said making an opening was the best realistic way.

Erdogan stated that it was a big contradiction and injustice to make Turkish Cypriots pay the cost of the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence policy.

“Steps should be taken for ending the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots urgently. EU should kept its promise for Turkish Cypriots. Direct flights and trade must be realized. The unjust implementations, political, legal, moral and humanitarian cannot be explained” he said.

Welcoming the meeting between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Tasos Papadopoulos, the Turkish Prime Minister said:

“We supported the United Nations’ process from the beginning. After more than 30 years a framework for the solution has been formed.  A solution should be based on the realities of the island. The partnership relation will be established between two equal people and  two founding states. We support the new process launched by the UN and know that the Turkish Cypriot side shows and active effort. The Greek Cypriot side should from now on leave its intransigent stance and approach positively to partnership relation.

The Turkish side openly put forward its goodwill and desire towards solution. It had done its responsibilities and will continue to so. We keep our stance of being one step forward in the Cyprus issue. Turkey’s Action Plan, on 24 January 2006, is the result of this understanding. We propose the lifting of all existing restrictions by all sides until a comprehensive solution is found. For our point of view, this is the best realistic way of making an opening. The solution of the Cyprus issue should be within the UN not the EU.

Primarily, the EU and the international community should keep their promises for Turkish Cypriots. Direct flights and trade must be realized. The unjust implementations on the Turkish Cypriots; political, legal, moral and humanitarian are incomprehensible. A contemporary understanding requires mutual respect, trust, cooperation on conciliation and consolidation. The is no legitimacy in applying restrictions on a side that desires peace and conciliation. Do not forget that whatever the conditions are, Turkey is always and will be by the side of the TRNC.”

Meanwhile, addressing the crowd during the ceremony, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that on the issue of Cyprus, the policy they follow together with Turkey is same with the world. He added that it was necessary to continue with determination to pursue this policy leaving no option for any suspect.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot claims for many years that the Turkish side was in favor of separation has now been refuted, President said while, working for the solution, effort should also be spent for TRNC to stand on its own feet.

President Talat also addressing the Greek Cypriot administration, which he defined as seeing a dangerous dream, said “we as the Turkish side expect them to wake up. By using the opportunity put forward with Mr. Gambari’s visit, let’s us establish a strong settlement based on a partnership with mutual respect and strengthening trust. Through this way we can set an example for the world, at least for the region. Let’s us show how conflicts are solved just beside the burning middle east.”

Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol between Turkey and the TRNC, envisaging 1 Billion 875 Million NTL aid from Turkey to the TRNC for supporting the new economic program being implemented in the TRNC was signed.

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who, is in the island to participate the 20 July Peace and Freedom Day celebrations, and the TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer signed the Protocol.

Following the protocol envisaging the increasingly continuation of the existing economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, and TRNc’s Minister for Transportation Salih Usar signed a cooperation agreement on the issue of “electronic signature”.