A delegation from the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Justice and Development Party MP Fuat Oktay which is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) embarked on its contacts on Thursday.
The delegation was received separately by President Ersin Tatar, the Speaker of the TRNC Parliament Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel.
Members of Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee who arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday embarked on their contacts today (Thursday).
Following customary visits to the tombs of the late Turkish Cypriot leader Dr Fazıl Küçük and the late founding President of the TRNC Rauf Denktaş, the delegation was received by President Ersin Tatar.
Receiving the delegation, President Ersin Tatar pointed out that there has been a Turkish-Greek balance in Cyprus since forever.
“However, by admitting the Greek Cypriot side to the EU, they wanted to disrupt this balance. The fundamental goal of the struggle undertaken by Turkish Cypriot people, together with Türkiye, is to preserve this balance,” he said.
Fuat Oktay, who is chairing the delegation, for his part expressed his support for President Tatar’s policy in favour of two equal and sovereign states in Cyprus.
“We now want the recognition of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) as a state,” he said.
He pointed out that the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus has always acted unjustly towards the Turkish Cypriots, and the recent events on the Pile-Yiğitler road have reaffirmed this.
The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre also received the delegation from the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Speaking during the visit, Speaker Töre expressed his happiness at hosting the delegation in the TRNC.
He emphasized the significant role of Türkiye in the position reached by the Turkish Cypriot people, stating, “Without the motherland, we could not have achieved success in our national struggle.”
“During Fuat Oktay’s tenure as Vice President, there were significant investments in the TRNC. A national policy is being pursued with the Republic of Türkiye. If it were left to the UN, the Peace Operation on July 20th would not have taken place. Under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the TRNC became an observer member of the OIC, which is a significant development.”
Fuat Oktay, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly for his part said that they wanted to visit the TRNC and have consultations on specific issues before the start of the new legislative year for Turkish Parliament.
He emphasized that the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC have always been inseparable, stating that both countries stand together in all circumstances.
“Negotiations regarding Cyprus must be based on the principle of two equal sovereign entities; there can be no other way. We continue our efforts for the recognition of the TRNC,” he said.
Following the meeting with Töre, the delegation was received by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel followed by an inter-delegation meeting of the two countries.
Later in the evening, the Turkish parliamentary delegation will meet with the TRNC’s Legal, Political and Foreign Affairs Committee before attending a dinner hosted in their honour by Parliamentary Speaker Zorlu Töre.
Speaking at Ercan Airport on Wednesday, Oktay said that they will be conducting a comprehensive assessment on all issues, including recent events and discussions at the UN.
“We can further enhance the relations between the two legislatures, and we will have discussions on that as well,” he said.