In a recent development that has sparked controversy in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot leader and President of the internationally unrecognized TRNC, Ersin Tatar'sTatar, has been exposed for sharing an emotional anecdote about reading a supportive headline in The Times newspaper that has been proven false. The revelation has raised questions about the credibility of the appointed President as the upcoming presidential elections approach.
During a video interview with the YouTube channel "Hoth Media" filmed in Varosha (Kapalı Maraş), Tatar became visibly emotional while recounting a personal story from November 1983. He claimed that while in England, he boarded a morning train to work and noticed The Times newspaper in the hands of a fellow English passenger. According to Tatar, the headline read "Turkish Cypriots Declare Independence," which allegedly moved him to tears.
"I was in England in 1983. I was getting on the train in the morning to go to work. I saw a newspaper in an Englishman's hand. I'll never forget… The Times newspaper had the headline 'Turkish Cypriots Declare Independence.' And there, I could cry even now," Tatar said, becoming tearful during the interview. "I was overcome with emotion. I am someone who lived through that moment. I couldn't hold back my tears there."
Following the interview's circulation on social media, where many criticized Tatar's "fake tears," Turkish Cypriot media located and shared the actual headline from The Times on the relevant date.
The evidence revealed a starkly different reality. Rather than celebrating Turkish Cypriot independence, the actual headline read: "World Leaders Unite in Rejecting New Cypriot State." This headline directly contradicts Tatar's emotional account, indicating global opposition to the declaration rather than recognition.
This revelation comes at a sensitive time for Tatar, who currently holds the presidency position in the self-declared TRNC, as presidential elections approach. The discrepancy has fueled debate about the authenticity of Tatar's public statements and emotional displays.
The incident has gained significant attention on social media platforms, with many questioning why the President would fabricate such a specific and emotional anecdote about a pivotal moment in Northern Cyprus's history.
The declaration of independence by Turkish Cypriots in 1983 remains a contentious issue internationally, with the Republic of Cyprus and most countries continuing to view Northern Cyprus as an occupied territory rather than a legitimate independent state.
Photo: Özgür Gazete Kıbrıs