President Ersin Tatar has commented on the recent agreement between the European Union and four member states of the Organization of Turkic States—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan—calling for increased awareness in dealings with the Greek Cypriot side.

Speaking on the matter, President Ersin Tatar stated that while cooperation with the EU is understandable from the standpoint of national interests, the inclusion of certain provisions in the agreement referencing UN resolutions on the Cyprus issue raises serious concerns for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Emphasizing that the European Union’s primary motivation behind this agreement appears to be an attempt to obstruct the TRNC’s growing engagement with the Turkic world, particularly since it became an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States in 2022, Tatar called for a more balanced approach.

“We expect our Turkish brothers to engage with the TRNC just as much as they do with the Greek Cypriot side,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the agreement would benefit the Turkic states but warned them to be mindful of the Greek Cypriot Administration’s political maneuvers within the EU framework.

Tatar underscored that references to the Cyprus issue based on outdated UN Security Council decisions may have been overlooked during the signing process and questioned whether the parties were fully aware of the political ramifications.

“These agreements may carry unintended consequences,” he warned, urging Turkic states to adopt a more principled stance until the rights and status of the Turkish Cypriot people are recognized. “Relations with the EU are legitimate, but no member state of the EU—especially one with a population of just 800,000—should dictate how ties are formed with the TRNC,” he concluded.