Based on this information, write a new short title in English: “The existence of foundations is one of the most concrete indicators of the Turkish presence in Cyprus” – BRTK

Republic of Turkey (TR) Ambassador to Nicosia Yasin Ekrem Serim emphasized that the existence of Foundations is one of the most concrete indicators of the Turkish presence in Cyprus and said, “With these qualities, Foundations have played a vital role in the registration and protection of the rights of Turkish Cypriots.”

“International Turkish Cypriot Foundations Symposium with Legal Dimensions”, organized in cooperation with Ankara Social Sciences University (ASBU) Northern Cyprus Campus, Cyprus Foundations Administration and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has started.

Speaking at the opening of the symposium held at the Bilal Ağa Cultural Center in Maraş, Famagusta, Ambassador Serim said that this study, in which the scientists of the country and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will contribute to the legal dimension of the Turkish Cypriot Foundations, will produce beneficial results in terms of the status of the Turkish Cypriot Foundations in international law. He said he had no doubts.

Serim thanked everyone who contributed to the realization of this event, which aims to discuss the issue of Turkish Cypriot Foundations in depth.

“Foundation is the eternal separation and presentation of a property for charitable purposes,” said Serim, adding, “In other words, a Foundation is a property that is accepted as God’s property, is removed from private ownership, is allocated to the service of humanity forever, and becomes a resource that can be used by the public.” “It is coming,” he said.

Stating that almost all of the public services undertaken by the modern state today were carried out by Foundations in the Ottoman Empire, and that the transfer of social wealth was provided voluntarily through Foundations, Serim stated the following:

“The consciousness and sensitivity created by the foundation system enabled the Ottoman civilization to reach a position above all civilizations at that time. For this reason, the Ottoman civilization was described as ‘foundation civilization’.”

-“Foundations are the guarantee of the peace and security of the nation.”

Emphasizing that the ancestors, who adopted the motto “Compete in charity”, did not leave anyone helpless and homeless by establishing foundations, Serim noted that foundations, which do not spare aid to those in need, are also the guarantee of the peace and security of the nation.

Stating that our ancestors paid great attention not only to the establishment of foundations but also to their protection, Ambassador Serim continued as follows:

“After the conquest of Cyprus in 1571, as the first action of our ancestors, they brought the Foundation culture, which is the most important indicator of our understanding of philanthropy and solidarity, to Cyprus. The first foundations were established by the Ottoman Pasha and his administrators, and over time, a large foundation real estate asset emerged throughout the island with the foundations established by the philanthropic Turkish people. Historical research reveals that more than 2220 foundations were established in Cyprus between 1571 and 1974.”

-“The existence of foundations is one of the most concrete indicators of the Turkish presence in Cyprus.”

Stating that the Foundations, which are the best reflection of the understanding of philanthropy and solidarity in the spirit of the Turkish Cypriots, have become the most established organizations of the Island since the day they were established, Serim said, “The existence of the Foundations is one of the most concrete indicators of the Turkish presence in Cyprus. “With these qualities, Foundations have played a vital role in the registration and protection of the rights of Turkish Cypriots,” he said and added:

“So much so that even in the agreement made in 1878 when Cyprus was left to England, it was stipulated that the Ottoman Empire would participate in the management of the foundations in Cyprus with a delegate, and in the Treaty of Lausanne, the commitment to protect the foundations outside the borders of Turkey, including those in Cyprus, was recorded.

Moreover, in the Lausanne Peace Treaty, which we consider as the founding document of the Republic of Turkey, it is recorded that the validity of the foundations established on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, including the entire Island of Cyprus, will be preserved. In this way, the status of the Foundations established throughout the Island has been secured by an international law document.”

-“The return of the foundations to the Turkish Cypriot Community is the first victory of the Turkish Cypriots in their struggle for existence and freedom on the Island.”

Stating that as a result of great struggles, the management of the Cyprus Foundations was regained by the Turkish Cypriots, their real owners, in 1956, Serim underlined that the return of the Foundations to the Turkish Cypriot Community was the first victory of the Turkish Cypriots in their struggle for existence and freedom on the Island.

Serim stated that although the 1960 Constitution stipulated the recognition and protection of the Foundation institution and Ahkamül Evkaf on the Island, contrary to these legal regulations, both the British administration and the Greek administration violated the rights and interests of the Foundations and stated the following:

“For this reason, in order to protect the rights of Foundations in the international community, it will be useful to discuss and investigate the nature of Ahkamül Evkaf rules as a source of international law as customary law in legal studies to be carried out.”

-“We must protect and strengthen foundations”

Stating that Cyprus Foundations, as a distinguished institution in the past, touch many areas of life on the Island and continue their work for the development of Turkish Cypriots, Serim said:

“We must protect and strengthen the Foundations, which were established as a result of the great efforts of our ancestors and inherited from us, by doing our best. “It is our duty, as soldiers of the civilization of love and mercy, to keep the foundations alive.”

“Our state has stood by the oppressed and the oppressed at every stage of its deep-rooted history. Ambassador Serim said, “The institution where our principle of ‘Keep people alive so that the state lives’ is indisputably embodied is our foundations.” Ambassador Serim stated that they continue to work with great sensitivity to carry the foundations to the future.

Expressing that it is important to protect the Foundation properties throughout the island and to carry out current studies on them, Serim wished that the symposium would be the pioneer of many similar studies to be carried out in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and that its results would be beneficial.

Ambassador Serim thanked the institutions organizing the symposium and greeted the participants with respect and love.