At the "Cyprus Facts" exhibition, Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "We do not forget the attempts of ethnic cleansing and exclusion against the Turkish Cypriots, and we are making every effort and will continue to do so to ensure that these actions are not erased from memory. On the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, we will continue to explain the fair arguments of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots to the world."
Director of Communications Altun visited the "Cyprus Facts" exhibition at the Ankara Art Gallery and Auction House, which was organised by the Ankara Culture, Arts and Civilization Association with the support of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications. President Ersin Tatar of the TRNC also attended the event.
Director of Communications Altun expressed his gratitude to President Tatar of the TRNC for his attendance at the exhibition and stated that Tatar's involvement would enhance the exhibition's standing among the general public on a national and international scale.
Director of Communications Altun stated that they were delighted and honoured to be hosting the exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and that they would conduct numerous activities throughout the year to inform the national and international public about the facts of Cyprus. Director of Communications Altun indicated that the "Cyprus Facts" exhibition was the first step in this direction and that they would use public diplomacy opportunities to explain the cause of the TRNC and the facts of Cyprus to the entire world and the international public, both in the TRNC and other parts of the world.
Stating that there are two dimensions of the issue historically when it comes to the facts of Cyprus, Director of Communications Altun said, "First of all, there is the atrocities experienced. And secondly, there is the valiant and proud resistance of the Turkish Cypriots against these atrocities."
Emphasising that traces of both the atrocities and the struggle of the strong resistance against them can be observed in the exhibition, Director of Communications Altun noted:
"Within this aspect, our exhibition presents a historical chronology that vividly demonstrates the significant and undeniable Turkish influence, presence, and impact on the history of Cyprus. Similarly, it is evident that Turks in Cyprus were subjected to persecution during the 20th century, influenced by international powers, and in this regard, there was an attempt to establish an anti-Turkish status quo in the region. With the steadfast support and substantial contributions of the Republic of Türkiye, coupled with the heroic struggle of the Turkish Cypriots, thankfully, attempts at extermination were thwarted, and malicious activities came to an end."
"We must remember the bitter facts"
Pointing out that in addition to this historical background, it is possible to see how the facts of Cyprus were reflected in national and international media and how the persecution of the Turkish Cypriots was documented in national and international media, Director of Communications Altun said that many historical documents were shared in this sense in the exhibition.
Director of Communications Altun stated that they had the opportunity to present the real picture of Cyprus through the most important historical data forming the source of the exhibition with newspaper clippings, magazine copies, books and other archive documents, as well as through the testimonies of people who were oppressed in Cyprus and the confessions of the oppressors, and said:
"We are not depicting the Cyprus that the Western status quo presents to us, nor the Cyprus described through selective narratives; instead, we depict the Cyprus where authentic Turkish identity takes centre stage. Certainly, our guiding principle in curating this exhibition was to ensure that, regardless of circumstances, we remember the bitter truths of our history. We must remember the bitter truths; we must not let them be forgotten. As Aliya Izetbegovic said, 'Whatever you do, never forget the genocide. A genocide forgotten is one repeated.' We do not forget the attempts of ethnic cleansing and exclusion against the Turkish Cypriots, and we are making every effort and will continue to do so to ensure that these actions are not erased from memory. On the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, we will continue to explain the fair arguments of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots to the world."
"A formal acknowledgement of the support provided by Türkiye"
Director of Communications Altun stated that TRNC continued to defend the cause of the Turkish Cypriots with an approach based on dialogue and diplomacy in the international arena and defended the two-state solution perspective more strongly in the international arena, and said:
"In this context, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ardently promotes the two-state solution perspective on all international platforms, particularly the United Nations, and supports the cause of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Our President's efforts to secure observer membership for the TRNC in the Organisation of Turkic States serve as a formal acknowledgement of the support provided by both the President and Türkiye to the Turkish Cypriots.
Through exhibitions, films, and every other instrument of public diplomacy at our disposal, we shall persistently expose the suffering endured in the past and the valiant struggle waged by the TRNC on a national and international scale."
