The 2nd Meeting of the Ministers on Disaster and Emergency Management of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku.
Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz, who attended the meeting, stressed their determination to participate in efforts to strengthen disaster and emergency cooperation.
Minister Oğuz also attended a earthquake exercise that took place at the end of the summit.
Addressing participants at the 2nd Meeting of the Ministers on Disaster and Emergency Management of the Organization of Turkic States, Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz stressed that an emergency management plan was ready for any disaster or emergency situation that may occur in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
He also stressed the importance of immediate cooperation during emergency, highlighting that the significance of such cooperation was once again understood following the earthquake disaster in Türkiye.
While expressing hope that disasters will not occur again, Oğuz stressed that in the event of similar disasters, the Turkish Cypriot People, an inseparable part of the larger Turkic world, would be ready to support their compatriots just as they did during the earthquake disaster in Türkiye, providing all possible assistance when needed.
Noting that similar humanitarian aid mechanisms created under the auspices of the United Nations and the European Union, which are sympathetic to the Greek Cypriot Administration, unjustly excluded the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for political reasons, he stressed the importance of being part of a vital initiative.
Oğuz also expressed the readiness of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to contribute, share its experiences, and host a joint exercise in all matters to be addressed under the umbrella of the Civil Protection Mechanism of the Organization of Turkic States.
Touching upon the devastating February 6 earthquake in Türkiye, , which resulted in significant losses for the TRNC, Minister Oğuz said, “In the wake of the earthquake disaster, we lost 49 of our citizens. Among our losses were the future of our country, the brightest minds, successful athlete children, and our teachers. As the TRNC government, being here to establish and enhance the civil protection mechanism among the Turkic states, to remember the ‘Champion Angels’ that we declared as duty martyrs, to ensure their peaceful rest, to fight together on these issues, and to always stand in solidarity in preparedness for natural disasters like this is very valuable.”