A panel titled “The Importance of the Organization of Turkic States for the TRNC” was held in Girne.
Former Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ramil Hasan, who spoke at the panel, said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the Mediterranean fortress of the Turkic world.
According to a statement from the Prime Ministry’s Press and Public Relations Department, Durali Güçlüsoy, the Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry State Planning Organisation (DPÖ), Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, the General Secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), and Özdemir Tokel, the President of the Turkish Cypriot Political and Social Research Centre (SİTA) took part in the panel.
UBP General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu reminded that his party, Türkiye’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), and the New Azerbaijan Party had recently signed a historically significant cooperation protocol.
“The Organization of Turkic States is a new but very important organization for us. We organized this event to understand and explain its importance,” said Hasipoğlu, expressing gratitude to Ramil Hasan.
Former Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States and Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ramil Hasan, delivered a presentation on the historical process, structure of the organization, and the new situation after the TRNC’s observer membership.
Hasan stated that they had struggled for many years for the existence of the TRNC within the Organization of Turkic States and finally succeeded.
He emphasized that the recognition of the TRNC within the organization is a team success.
The former secretary-general mentioned the challenging process and the significant support provided by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to make an unrecognized state known to the world.
He highlighted the importance of the visits of President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel to Azerbaijan, where they were received at the highest protocol level.
“Countries that are members of the Organization of Turkic States are not just non-governmental organizations; they are states. If these states have signed a historical declaration for the TRNC, even de facto, it means they have recognized the TRNC. This is crucial for the business world and other sectors in the TRNC,” he said.
Hasan also acknowledged the efforts of Tahir Budagov, Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, for visiting the TRNC despite pressures and conducting talks, considering it as direct support from Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani State.
He mentioned ongoing efforts for similar closeness with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing the importance of everyone’s role in this regard.
Hasan expressed the sole aim of enhancing cooperation opportunities for the TRNC and breaking isolation together through observer membership.
Highlighting the geostrategic importance of the TRNC, Hasan emphasized that the TRNC is the Mediterranean fortress of the Turkic world.