Following his participation in the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, President Ersin Tatar returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Speaking at a press conference at Ercan Airport, Tatar shared insights on his meetings and emphasized the significance of TRNC’s membership in the OTS.

Highlighting the TRNC’s strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean he underscored the TRNC’s potential to contribute to the Turkic world through its airport, seaports, and energy resources.

“As part of the OTS, we aim to protect the rights and interests of the Turkic world in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he stated, adding that these assets could play a vital role in any future regional developments.

Tatar also stressed the importance of the OTS’s support for the TRNC’s cause and expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by member states.

He affirmed that the organization’s backing is a valuable asset in advocating for TRNC’s rightful standing on the international stage.

During his address at the OTS summit on Wednesday, President Ersin Tatar emphasized the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting that TRNC’s observer status strengthens the Turkic world’s presence in the region.

He highlighted the potential contributions of TRNC to the Turkic community through key assets like Ercan Airport and Gazimağusa Port, which he described as gateways for economic opportunities.

Tatar also portrayed the TRNC as an “island of education” with aspirations to become a “science base,” pointing to its agricultural potential due to water supplies from Türkiye and the hydrocarbon resources surrounding Cyprus.