President Erdoğan's condolence message for Sırrı Süreyya Önder: 'I felt deep sorrow'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements at TEKNOFEST TRNC.

Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows:

I am filled with the joy of meeting you in this beautiful land, in the heart of the Mediterranean, where the past and the future meet. A short while ago, we inaugurated the parliament building of our republic campus. Now, we are together with you on the occasion of TEKNOFEST. I would like to thank each and every one of you, our young people who are creating a wind of technology in Cyprus.

'I AM PROUD'

Dear young people, we are holding the 11th TEKNOFEST, a world brand in technology, in Cyprus. 47,865 contestants applied. I congratulate each of our young people who received awards. I wish them continued success. I thank all my brothers and sisters who participated in the competition. I especially want you to know that I am proud of you.

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE'

The works exhibited here and the achievements made clearly demonstrate the distance our youth have covered in technology. It is of particular importance that these works, each containing effort and care, are exhibited in Cyprus. It is an important step taken by one nation, two states, towards a common future. We, as the Turkish nation and the Turkish Cypriots, are the hosts in these lands. Let those who do not know this learn, and let those who do not hear this hear. We have our mark and indelible memories on every square meter of the island. We were here 51 years ago, and we are here again.

With the TEKNOFEST youth who shape the technologies of the future, and with our strategic works that we have brought to life with a great vision, I hope we will continue to be here. On this occasion, I wish mercy upon my martyrs who wrote epics with their blood.

WE ARE GIVING THE ANSWER TO THOSE WHO SAY 'YOU CANNOT DO IT' WITH YOU

We have launched our domestic and national technology initiative to put our ideal of a fully independent Turkey into practice. Undoubtedly, one of the largest shares in the point we have reached today in unmanned aerial vehicles belongs to the late Özdemir Bayraktar. We are giving the greatest answer to those who told us we could not do it when we set out on this path, with you.

With the TEKNOFEST youth, with our works rising all over Northern Cyprus, and with our strategic projects, we will continue to be here for many centuries to come. I declare once again today that we are ready to defend and protect these lands, the home of martyrs, at the cost of our lives if necessary.

"WE ARE AMONG THE TOP 3 COUNTRIES"

We are among the top 3 most advanced countries in the world in UAV technology. We will continue to work with the same determination and excitement from now on. With the technology you produce, we will build a much more prosperous Turkey and a much better Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We are with you in the fields of education, technology, and sports. In addition to new schools, we are preparing for earthquakes by renovating existing schools. We are turning the island into an education hub. Whatever opportunities exist in Turkey, the same opportunities will exist in the TRNC. Events like the diploma fraud in Istanbul, which has also concerned our public recently, will not be able to occur again. We encourage our youth to engage in sports. We are building sports facilities and student dormitories in this field. We provide housing services to 7,026 students in 5 buildings across the island. I would also like to give this good news here; the e-government application is nearing completion. The launch of the application will take place very soon.

"WE WILL ALSO BRING ELECTRICITY"

We brought water from Turkey to the TRNC under the sea. Now, for the second stage, I hope we will also bring electricity. We will hopefully meet the needs of the TRNC in terms of water and electricity. Those whose eyes are accustomed to darkness will fear the light. Those who stay away from the Turkish Cypriots will naturally be uncomfortable with TEKNOFEST. Those who are uncomfortable with clothing and those who display fascist attitudes will naturally be uncomfortable here. If you try to mess with the headscarves of our girls here, I am sorry, but you will find us against you. We fought a lot regarding this, and we have reached this point with this struggle.

The marginal types who called for a boycott of TEKNOFEST were disappointed here, just as they were in our country, thank God. NGOs need to know how to be an NGO. If you try to mess with the headscarves of our girls in Northern Cyprus, I am sorry, but you will find us against you.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue to be a place of tolerance, as it has been for years. The marginal types who called for a boycott of TEKNOFEST were, thank God, disappointed here just as they were in our country. Just as in Turkey, the more they said boycott, the more we sold. Here too, the more they said boycott, the more the squares filled up. You will continue to answer them with your projects that take part in the achievements, young people.

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FOR SIRRI SÜREYYA ÖNDER

President Erdoğan's statement on Sırrı Süreyya Önder: I wish mercy from God upon him, and offer my condolences to his loved ones and the DEM Party community. I sincerely believe that we will reach the goal of a Turkey without terrorism, to which the late Önder also contributed greatly in his final period.