The newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Yasin Ekrem Serim, presented his letter of credence to President Ersin Tatar on Thursday, officially beginning his duties as ambassador in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
While presenting his credentials, Ambassador Serim stressed that he was aware of the responsibility he has undertaken and that he will work with all his efforts to help the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus achieve a brighter future in every area it deserves.
President Ersin Tatar also highlighted that the Republic of Türkiye did not see the Turkish Cypriot people as separate from its own, stressing that motherland Türkiye provided all kinds of support for the well-being and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Yasin Ekrem Serim, was welcomed with a military ceremony upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace.
After the national anthem was played, Serim saluted the ceremonial guard and also greeted the staff of the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa who were present at the Presidential Palace.
Ambassador Yasin Ekrem Serim then presented President Tatar with the letter of credence from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who appointed him to this position.
Ambassador Yasin Ekrem Serim conveyed President Erdoğan’s good wishes and greetings and expressed his honour and pride in starting his duties as the 16th ambassador.
He added that Türkiye stood by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in every way and will continue to do so.
President Ersin Tatar, in his speech, expressed his great pleasure in seeing Ambassador Serim and his family in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), stressing that the TRNC was the “apple of Türkiye’s eye.”
Tatar also added that Türkiye did not see the Turkish Cypriot people as separate from its own and expressed that Türkiye provided all kinds of support for the well-being and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot people.
In his letter of credence to President Tatar, Turkish President Erdoğan included the following statements:
“I have decided to appoint Mr. Yasin Ekrem Serim as the Ambassador to Your Excellency, with the desire to preserve and further strengthen the bonds of friendship that already exist between the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The values and qualities that distinguish him, along with the skills and determination he has demonstrated thus far, give me full confidence that he will fulfil this high duty in a manner that will earn Your Excellency’s trust. With this belief, I kindly ask you to show him your favour, and to consider as trustworthy all matters he will convey to you on behalf of both myself and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye. I especially ask that you trust all that he will express in order to convey my sincere and friendly feelings and wishes for Your Excellency’s happiness and for the well-being of the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
Yasin Ekrem Serim was born on March 27, 1986, in Kocaeli. He is married and a father of three children.
Serim graduated from the Public Administration and Political Science Department at Girne American University and later completed his master’s degree in International Business Management at the University of Westminster in the UK. He also participated in programs on Negotiation and Communication Techniques and Leadership in Southeast Europe at Harvard University.
Throughout his career, Serim has held various positions, including Advisor at the Ministry of European Union Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry, Chief of Staff to the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and most recently, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Yasin Ekrem Serim was appointed as the Ambassador to Lefkoşa on August 9, 2024.
Meanwhile, after presenting his letter of credence to President Ersin Tatar, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Yasin Ekrem Serim, visited the Atatürk Monument in Lefkoşa, the Mausoleum of the leader of the Turkish Cypriot People’s Struggle for Existence and Freedom Dr. Fazıl Küçük and the Tomb of Founding President Rauf Denktaş.
Ambassador Serim who laid wreaths at the monuments and observed a moment of silence also signed the special books at the monuments.