Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressed the world from the podium at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In his speech, Erdoğan discussed Israel’s massacres in Gaza and brought up the Cyprus issue, becoming the voice of the Turkish Cypriots.
Stressing that the side demonstrating a sincere will to bring about a just, permanent, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem had always been the Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye, the Turkish President noted that there were two separate states and peoples on the island.
Stating that the federation model was no longer viable in solving the Cyprus issue, Erdoğan said, “The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots should be re-acknowledged, and isolation must end.”
He also stressed that the fate of the world should not be in the hands of five countries and once again called on the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
In his speech, Erdoğan also criticized Israel’s attacks on Palestine, condemned the massacres, and stated that Gaza had become the world’s largest graveyard for children and women.
“While a ceasefire in Gaza is urgently needed, the main issue is the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel” he said.
Noting that the United Nations, established to maintain peace in the world, was becoming an ineffective and cumbersome organization, Erdoğan stressed that the fate of the world should not be in the hands of five countries.
During his speech at the General Assembly, he also conveyed important messages regarding the Cyprus issue, voicing the concerns of the Turkish Cypriots.
Stating that Türkiye, which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, played an undeniable key role in the region, the Turkish President stressed, “Türkiye has rights over its declared continental shelf in the north and west of Cyprus, while the Turkish Cypriots have rights around the entire island.”
“It has been 50 years since the Cyprus Peace Operation and 61 years since the Cyprus issue arose due to the Greek Cypriots’ seizure of the partnership state. Since then, peace and tranquillity have prevailed on the island” Erdoğan noted.
He also stressed that the side that had always shown a sincere will for a just, lasting, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue had been the Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye.
“The federation model has completely lost its validity. There are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island. The inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriots to sovereign equality and equal international status must be reaffirmed, and the isolation must end” Turkish President added.
“Today, I once again call on the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and to establish diplomatic, political, and economic relations” Erdoğan said.
“The Turkish Cypriots have also become an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States” he added.