Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to carry out consultations on combating irregular migration between the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC.

Serim is meeting with state and government officials

Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekrem Serim who is in the TRNC for meetings with state and government officials was received by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel on Monday.

Following his meeting with Üstel, Serim came together with the Minister of Interior Ziya Öztürkler.

Speaking during the meeting, the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister said that he was honoured to be in the TRNC, particularly on the week of July 20.

“Our priority is to guarantee the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said, adding that they will be working together with the TRNC in combating irregular migration which was a global problem.

“The TRNC’s security is our security,” Serim concluded.

For his part, Öztürkler said that they wanted to benefit from Türkiye’s experience in combating undocumented and irregular migration.

Later this afternoon Serim will be received by President Ersin Tatar at 2:45pm.

Following that meeting he will be received by Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu at 4pm.

Serim will hold a joint press statement with Minister of Interior Öztürkler at 6pm this evening.

The Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister’s contacts in the TRNC are focused on current challenges in the field of combating irregular migration and establishing concrete cooperation with the TRNC in this area.

He will also address matters of cooperation on visa-related issues and finalize the agreement on providing consular assistance to TRNC citizens.