Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, who held official meetings in Ankara, returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Thursday.

Speaking at Ercan Airport regarding his meetings in Ankara, Prime Minister Üstel stated that ahead of the new legislative year, he visited Türkiye with coalition partners and some ministers, where they met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.

The Premier stressed that despite the “ring of fire” surrounding Türkiye, both President Erdoğan and Vice President Yılmaz devoted six hours to their meetings, demonstrating how much they value the Turkish Cypriots.

Noting that during his visit to Ankara, they held discussions with various ministers to outline the roadmaps to be followed in the coming period, Üstel added that they addressed potential solutions to current challenges in meetings with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, and officials from the Directorate General of Migration Management.

He also announced that Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya will visit the TRNC in the coming days to personally review the ongoing efforts.

Üstel added that they were working to strengthen the police force both in terms of vehicles and technical equipment, and that during Interior Minister Yerlikaya’s upcoming visit to the TRNC, the grants for the police force will be announced.

Explaining that, together with Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı, they discussed transportation issues with Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdülkadir Uraloğlu, he said, “We are working on prioritizing which roads need immediate attention, and efforts are underway to install solar-powered lighting on these roads.”

The Premier also announced that the work to complete the Girne-Çatalköy road was finished, and it had been decided that the Çatalköy-Değirmenlik road will be given high priority and constructed quickly.

Üstel shared that work was also underway to urgently complete the Dipkarpaz Monastery road and the roads leading to Kayalar and Sadrazamköy, with the project set to begin soon.

Stating that the issues faced by citrus producers in the Güzelyurt and Lefke regions, were also discussed, he stated that, as in the past, the new harvest will be exported to Türkiye during this period.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side’s attempts to undermine TRNC tourism were addressed in Ankara, Üstel reminded that promotional campaigns for Cyprus had previously been carried out in the UK and Germany, and now, a new protocol had been signed between the Tourism Ministers to promote North Cyprus in Türkiye.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that they held a meeting with Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, regarding the project to bring electricity to the TRNC via cable from Türkiye.

“A little over a year ago, we signed a protocol with Turkish Vice President for a feasibility report on the project to transfer electricity via cable. That period has now ended. The feasibility studies on how the energy will be delivered to the TRNC via cable have been completed, and the planning phase is underway. On November 15, Cevdet Yılmaz will visit the TRNC, and together we will share with the public how the energy will be brought by cable” Üstel said.

Highlighting the energy issues in the country, he stressed that they had made several investments to ensure energy supply security, and now they were working on the necessary steps to be taken until the cable-delivered electricity arrives.

Noting that, in light of developments in the Middle East and the increasing use of South Cyprus as a military base, they held discussions with Turkish Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, and Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, Üstel stated that it had been decided to take certain precautions in the TRNC in response to this situation.

“Despite Türkiye’s tight schedule, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz dedicating six hours to us in his office shows how much value is placed on the Turkish Cypriots, our government, and my ministerial colleagues. I extend my thanks to both President Erdoğan and Vice President Yılmaz” Prime Minister Üstel added.