Erdoğan expects Turkic world contacts with Northern Cyprus to grow

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the Heads of State Council meeting of the Turkic States summit at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. He said Türkiye was taking over the organisation's chairmanship from Azerbaijan and thanked Azerbaijan for its efforts during its term.

Erdoğan said he believed the Turkic world's contacts with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would increase. He welcomed Turkmenistan's contributions to the group's work and said he hoped to see it become a full member of the family council soon. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the family institution and supporting women's role in society.

On regional issues, Erdoğan said he supported Azerbaijan's contacts with Armenia and that Türkiye would continue contributing to lasting peace in the South Caucasus. He called for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and for support for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The summit's theme was set as 'Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Action'.