Bayrak Radio Television Corporation, the voice of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, celebrated its 46th anniversary of establishment yesterday. 

“Bayrak, Bayrak, Bayrak..The voice of the Cyprus Turkish Fighters”. This was the first announcement made on Bayrak Radio 46 years ago. Since then, it has become the voice to the rightful Cyprus Turkish struggle for independence and existence.

A special an anniversary reception was given at BRT premises to mark the occasion.

During the reception, BRT Director Ozer Kanli, TRT Deputy Director Mehmet Canpolat, Turksat General Director Ozkan Dalbay, the Head of the Information Technologies and Communications Commission Tayfun Acarer, Turkish Ambassdor to Lefkosa Sakir Fakili, Minister of Public Works and Communications Hasan Tacoy, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and President Mehmet Ali Talat all delivered speeches.

As part of celebrations marking the corporation’s 46 anniversary, a ball will also be held at the Acapulco Resort Hotel tonight.

Addressing the reception first, the Director of Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation Ozer Kanli said that the legendary Bayrak Radio, the pioneer institution of today’s BRT, was founded 46 years ago with the aim of voicing to the world the Cyprus Turkish Peoples’ existence in Cyprus.

Pointing out that the corporation has come a long way since then, Kanli said that the BRT was the voice and soul of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He also said that the anniversary marked the launch of the first leg of the territorial digital broadcasting project, which will enable BRT 1 and BRT 2, together with 6 other private to start high-definition terrestrial digital TV broadcast via satellite.

“Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation, with its 2 TV channels and 5 radio stations will continue to move forward and voice the just cause of the TRNC” the director added.

The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Sakir Fakili for his part said that the founding of Bayrak Radio signaled the beginning of the struggle waged by the Turks of Cyprus to defend their existence and identity in Cyprus.

He reminded that Bayrak radio had been founded, a primitive station with limited means back then, as a counter offensive against the bloody Christmas attacks unleashed on Cyprus Turks by the Greek Cypriots.
Also addressing the reception, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu highlighted the fact that Bayrak Radio and Television was one of the most important institutions in voicing the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Congratulating all those who served and continue to serve the corporation for their outstanding work, the Premier said “It is not possible not to be proud of the corporation’s accomplishment. Look at where we have come. Much has been accomplished in 46 years.”

Delivering the final speech of the reception, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation had come to be identified with the Cyprus Turkish Peoples’ struggle for existence.

“BRT kept the Turks of Cyprus’s perseverance for struggle going and played an important role in organizing the struggle against the Greek-Greek Cypriot onslaught. Later it became a strong institution with its upgraded infrastructure.

Explaining out that most the TRNC’s private TV channels had stated broadcasting via satellite thanks to the territorial digital broadcasting project, the President underlined the importance of private TV channels.

“The more TV channels you have the wider the political spectrum is represented. This allows for democracy to flourish. The BRT is the safeguard of this variety” he added.

Highlighting the important role played by the corporation, President Talat said that the Turks of Cyprus needed to be understood better by the international community and that the BRT played an important role in reaching that goal.

Today will also mark the launch of the first leg of the territorial digital broadcasting project, which will enable BRT 1 and BRT 2, together with 6 other private to start high-definition terrestrial digital TV broadcast via satellite.