The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş met with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel on Tuesday as part of his contacts in the TRNC.

Speaking after the meeting, Prime Minister Üstel reminded that they had previously worked together with Numan Kurtulmuş and had taken steps to further develop social and commercial relations between the three countries, Türkiye, the TRNC and Azerbaijan.

He said that he was confident that Kurtulmuş will represent the Turkic world in the best way during his new post.

Stating that the TRNC, through the cooperation carried out with Türkiye, will also be a part of the Turkish century, Prime Minister Üstel stated that the long-awaited new Ercan airport terminal and runway will be put into service on July 20.

Üstel expressed the view that the new airport will open new doors for the TRNC and ease the Turkish Cypriot people’s access to the world

He added that the international community will be left with no excuses for international and direct flights once the new airport becomes operational.

Stating that large-bodied commercial planes will also be able to land at Ercan with the opening of the airport, Üstel then spoke about the second major project for the country which is bringing electricity via cable.

The speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş for his part stated that Cyprus was a national cause for Türkiye.

“Over the years it has become very clear that there can be no solution other than a bi-communal, two-state solution on the island of Cyprus,” said Kurtulmuş, adding that it was always the Greek Cypriots who were rewarded despite the fact the Turkish Cypriot side always displayed a constructive stance at the negotiating table.

Noting that for years the TRNC has faced embargoes, economic and political pressure, Kurtulmuş said that Türkiye has never left the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus alone in the international arena.

Kurtulmuş explained that Türkiye sees the recognition and existence of the TRNC as its first duty and noted that Türkiye will continue to stand by the Turkish Cypriot people in every field.