The Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for an official visit.

Yılmaz, during his two-day stay, will be meeting with state and government officials as well as carry out inspections on a number of ongoing projects.

The Turkish Vice President who arrived at Ercan Airport this morning held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel.

Speaking there, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that the relations between the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were not financial but vital.

Stating that the relationship between Türkiye and the TRNC meant living sovereign, in security, peace, and freedom, and receiving support and contributions in every field, the Premier stressed that strengthening these relations and building them on love and respect was very important for the people of the TRNC.

Üstel also noted that they might have elevated their relations with Türkiye to perhaps the highest level in history, and expressed great satisfaction with this.

The Premier announced that two new protocols would be signed as part of Yılmaz’s official visit, and that two new announcements would be made to the public.

Stating that when there was no stability, projects and necessary tasks remain incomplete, Üstel added, “Since we have achieved stability, we have also achieved stability in the economy.”

He expressed gratitude to Turkish President Erdoğan and Yılmaz for their support in completing the projects that had been left unfinished since 2012, including Ercan Airport.

Üstel also noted that they had completed the unfinished divided roads, and recently laid the foundation for the Lefkoşa Ring Road Cloverleaf Interchange with the participation of Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

The Premier also reminded that South Cyprus, disturbed by this development, has harassed those working in the construction sector, arrested them in violation of human rights, and applied pressure and oppression to tourists coming from the South to the North.

“We will overcome these challenges with Türkiye’s support and work to elevate our country to where it deserves” Üstel stressed.

“Following the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the UN General Assembly to ‘recognize the TRNC,’ we are advancing full speed ahead. We will embark on new projects in health due to the release of the 2024-2025 Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol we signed. For this reason, I sincerely thank Mr. Erdoğan and Mr. Yılmaz” the Premier said.

Noting that Yılmaz had always pleased the public with good news during his visits, Üstel reminded that during his previous visit, a preliminary protocol was signed for the cable electricity project to resolve the energy problem fundamentally, and noted that work on this project is in its final stage.

Prime Minister Üstel stated that two new protocols would be signed as part of Yılmaz’s official visit, and two new announcements would be made to the public.

Also speaking at the joint press conference, Turkish Vice President, Cevdet Yılmaz, stated that a new negotiation process cannot be initiated unless the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriots to sovereign equality and equal international status are recognized.

“As President Ersin Tatar emphasizes at every opportunity, we stand firmly with the Turkish Cypriots on these matters. As the minimum manifestation of these rights, the inhumane isolation imposed on our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters must end, and direct flights and direct trade with the TRNC must be initiated,” Yılmaz said and added that Türkiye will continue to convey the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriots to the international community and will maintain its support for the TRNC.

“We are in Lefkoşa to engage in discussions aimed at cooperation between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to review ongoing projects, and to take new concrete steps. We are here to further strengthen the unbreakable bonds between us and the Turkish Cypriots” Turkish Vice President Yılmaz said.

He added that during his visit, he would meet with President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, and the coalition partners to evaluate the shared vision for the future, particularly focusing on projects on the agenda, strengthening the TRNC economy, and recent developments on the Cyprus issue.

As part of his contacts on Friday, Yılmaz was received by President Ersin Tatar in the afternoon before attending a meeting at the President’s Office on Energy Supply Security.

Tatar and Yılmaz then held a joint press conference later in the afternoon.

The Turkish Vice President also inspected ongoing work at the new presidential and parliamentary complex in Lefkoşa and met with with Prime Minister Ünal Üstel as well war veterans.

He will also signed a joint protocol for the construction of hospitals.

Yılmaz will be departing from the TRNC on Saturday.