Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will one day become a full member of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS).

He was responding to the criticisms in the Greek Cypriot media regarding the TRNC’s observer membership to the Organization of Turkic States.

Evaluating the TRNC’s participation in the Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Sunday, Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu said that the observer membership in the organization was an extremely important and historic event.

Stressing that the TRNC’s presence in the Organization of Turkic States with its constitutional name and flag was extremely significant, he said, “We are all aware that efforts of various circles, those who particularly support the Greek Cypriot side, who oppose the TRNC’s membership are intensifying, however this is not possible. The TRNC’s observer status is real and will continue, and when the day comes, there will be a transition from observer membership to full membership.”

Referring to reports in the Greek Cypriot press regarding the TRNC’s participation in the summit, Ertuğruloğlu said “These reports do not come as a surprise to us, but considering there are so many member states, they were only able to demand an explanation from Hungary. First of all, I would like to say that the Greek Cypriots are disturbed by our presence.”

Pointing out that the international community pampered the Greek Cypriots, Ertuğruloğlu reminded that “the Greek Cypriot side has never accepted the fact that the Turkish Cypriots are a people with an equal state.”

Stating that the EU had allowed the Greek Cypriot side in violation of its membership criteria, he complained that the Greek Cypriots were exploiting their EU membership in different ways against the TRNC.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot side considered the TRNC’s observer membership to the Organization of Turkic States as “a step towards recognition”, Ertuğruloğlu said “we are already meeting, chatting and talking with the foreign ministers of other member countries at various international platforms. We are finding the opportunity to voice our just cause again and again.”