The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Numan Kurtulmuş has reiterated Türkiye’s support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Turkish Cypriot people.
The Turkish parliamentary speaker’s words came during a joint press conference with President Ersin Tatar in Lefkoşa.
Kurtulmuş, who is conducting his first trip abroad, met with state and government officials and is expected to leave for the capital of Azerbaijan Baku on Tuesday night.
Kurtulmuş embarked on his contacts on Tuesday with a visit to the mausoleum of the late Turkish Cypriot leader for freedom and existence Dr Fazıl Küçük and the founding President of the TRNC Rauf Denktaş before being received by President Ersin Tatar at the presidential palace.
Speaking at a joint press conference following a 40-minute long face-to-face meeting, President Ersin Tatar highlighted the importance of the Turkish parliamentary speaker’s first trip abroad to the TRNC.
He said that the visit, once again demonstrated to the world the importance Türkiye attached to the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Tatar pointed out that the TRNC due to its geostrategic location was of paramount importance not only for the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people but also for Türkiye’s Blue Homeland Doctrine.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, President Tatar said that there could be no return to the negotiating table for a comprehensive settlement before the sovereign equality and international equal status of the Turkish Cypriot people was recognised.
“We will not waste time with negotiations that do not yield results by sitting at the negotiation table without recognition. If there is confirmation on a new basis and if the UN decides in this direction, then there can be negotiations. Sovereign equality is indispensable for us,” he said.
Tatar expressed that an agreement under a federal umbrella would mean the end of the Turkish Cypriots, highlighting the importance of Türkiye’s role in collective defence mechanisms, as demonstrated at the NATO Summit, and emphasizing that national security is important for Türkiye and the TRNC depending on security issues, the conjuncture, and the geopolitical situation.
Tatar said, “Hopefully, in the coming period, with the reflection of the first 100 years of the Republic of Türkiye on the TRNC, the people here will reach more prosperous tomorrows, remaining committed to national politics.”
President Tatar, expressing that the Turkish Cypriot people have gone through many stages and nearly 50 years have passed since 1974, emphasized the strengthening of the TRNC and reminded of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic speech in New York.
Tatar stated that after Erdogan’s call to “lift the outdated isolations on the Turkish Cypriots and recognize the TRNC,” the acceptance of the TRNC with its constitutional name in the Organization of Turkish States has gradually strengthened the existence of the TRNC.
Tatar said, “In the Eastern Mediterranean, we see that we are getting stronger day by day in terms of rights and justice in the Blue Homeland, airspace, and geopolitically.”
He mentioned the developments in tourism, higher education, industrial zones, and the century’s project of water, emphasizing that a new era has begun in the country with all these developments and pointing out the importance of stability.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş said his first trip abroad to the TRNC, which had now become a tradition for all Turkish state and government officials demonstrated the importance Türkiye attached to the TRNC, the Turkish Cypriot people and the Cyprus cause.
He said that the recognition of the sovereign equality and independence of the TRNC was not only important for Turkish Cypriots but for regional stability as well.
The Turkish parliamentary speaker pointed out that Ankara fully supported and advocated the Turkish Cypriot side’s new two-state policy on the Cyprus issue.
Kurtulmuş pointed out that despite the goodwill and constructive approach adopted by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sides over the years of negotiations, the Greek Cypriots, emboldened by the international community, continue to prevent a comprehensive settlement due to their intransigent stance.
“That is why we have our own state, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. What is important is that we work to strengthen the TRNC. Cooperation with motherland Türkiye in this sense is vital,” he said, providing examples of such grand projects undertaken in collaboration with Türkiye such as the Water pipeline project, the new Ercan airport, the new presidential and parliamentary complex as well as plans to achieve interconnectivity,” he said.
Kurtulmuş concluded his remarks by pointing out that both Türkiye, which was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary and the TRNC were entering a new and important era, one that will see both countries flourish and grow stronger.
He added that Türkiye’s efforts in that direction will continue.
Following his joint press conference with Tatar, Kurtulmuş held separate meetings with his TRNC counterpart Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel.
Later in the afternoon, the Turkish speaker will pay a visit to the Boğaz martyrs’ cemetery and attend a live programme on Bayrak Radio Television before departing from the island.