Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler said “the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which are the vested rights of the TRNC is a sine qua non for Türkiye” and added “Any meaningful progress on this issue is only possible with the acceptance of this reality”.

The Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler evaluated the Cyprus issue during his Ministry’s budgetary discussion for 2025 at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Emphasizing that the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is indispensable for them, Güler said: “Meaningful progress on this issue is only possible with the acceptance of this reality. In this direction, we invite the entire international community to stop supporting the claims of only one side and to approach the issue in a reasonable, logical and fair manner.”

He said that the Greek Cypriot Administration of South Cyprus is trying to take advantage of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and carried out activities that harm stability under the name of humanitarian aid.

Noting that the increasing activity of foreign countries in Cyprus is also closely monitored, Güler said that in line with the “Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance”, they will continue to do their best for the peace, security and prosperity of the island by taking all kinds of military and political measures to ensure the security of the Turkish Cypriots.

He emphasized that the Turkish army represents Türkiye’s power and influence in the best way possible by showing its presence in various geographies from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, from the Gulf of Aden to the Persian Gulf.

Pointing out that the alternative cooperation model offered by Türkiye from Africa to Turkestan, from Far East Asia to South America increases Türkiye’s effectiveness in the world day by day, Güler said, “Understanding the importance and value of the active role we have assumed in these geographies, our European allies, especially Britain, Italy, Germany and France, are taking initiatives to develop joint initiatives with us.”