President Ersin Tatar has highlighted the significance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan choosing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as his first foreign visit.

“With this visit, the message ‘TRNC is a state’ will be conveyed to the world,” Tatar noted.

President Ersin Tatar expressed his appreciation over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s decision to conduct his first trip abroad to the TRNC following his re-election.

In his statement to Anadolu Agency, President Tatar conveyed his satisfaction with President Erdogan’s plan to visit the capital of TRNC, Lefkoşa.

Noting that President Erdoğan’s national policies had once again received approval from the Turkish people in the elections, Tatar stressed that the relationship between Türkiye and the TRNC has always been unique, highlighting that the Turkish Cypriot people consider themselves an integral part of the great Turkish nation.

He also pointed out that the Turkish President had mentioned the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus first whilst listing the countries during his inaugural speech.

“It is of great importance that President Erdoğan’s first foreign visit is to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. His visit here demonstrates Türkiye’s importance and the value it attaches to the TRNC in the face of the embargoes, isolations, and obstacles imposed on us by the world. Türkiye embraces and supports the TRNC. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had also stated during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the time has come for the international recognition of the TRNC. On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people, I express our gratitude to President Erdoğan for choosing our country for his first foreign trip” Tatar said.

He said that Erdoğan’s message to the TRNC will give the message to the world that the TRNC is a state which the Republic of Türkiye fully supports.

Tatar also expressed the view that cooperation between the two countries in social, cultural, economic, and other areas will increase in the period ahead.

“In the new era, our relations will be taken to an even higher level. With the support of Türkiye, the TRNC will continue to exist as a Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean indefinitely. Our greatest wish is to strengthen the institutions and economy of the TRNC and to ensure that the Turkish Cypriot people live in a prosperous country,” President Tatar said.