Remarks made on social media by Oktay Saral, Chief Advisor to the President of Türkiye, targeting TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel have stirred public outcry in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The post rapidly became the leading topic in the country’s political agenda, prompting swift condemnation from state and government officials, political parties, and civil society organisations across the TRNC.

President Ersin Tatar described Saral’s statements as “unfortunate and divisive,” expressing deep regret over the post and reaffirming his full support for Prime Minister Üstel.

In a written statement titled “To Our Precious People,” President Tatar underscored the historical and cultural bonds between the Turkish Cypriots and the people of Anatolia, stating: “We are the heirs of a sacred legacy, having carried the banner of Islam and the honour of the Turkish nation since 1571.”

He emphasised that the Turkish Cypriot community proudly serves as the frontier of the Turkish world in the Mediterranean, and therefore, such statements only serve to drive a wedge between the peoples of Türkiye and Cyprus.

Tatar warned that divisive rhetoric undermines unity and ultimately aligns with the objectives of foreign powers seeking to destabilise Turkish Cypriots.

“No one should ever question the Muslim and Turkish identity of the Turkish Cypriots,” he said, recalling the shared sacrifices made with the people of Anatolia since the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus.

Calling for public calm, Tatar stressed the importance of expressing opinions with respect and within the framework of unity, saying, “I trust in our nation’s wisdom and fraternity.”