Üstel: Türkiye is northern Cyprus's strongest supporter and closest partner

Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's message of support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, according to a written statement. Üstel described the motherland, Türkiye, as the Turkish Cypriot people's greatest guarantee, strongest supporter and closest partner in their struggle for existence, freedom, sovereignty and statehood.

Üstel said Erdoğan, speaking at the Heads of State Council meeting held in Ankara at the Beştepe National Exhibition Hall, had said he believed "our family assembly" would increase its contacts with the TRNC. Üstel called the TRNC's acceptance as an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States under its constitutional name a historic turning point.

Üstel said the Turkish Cypriot people are one of the island's equal founding partners and that the international community must recognise their rights as a basic condition for a fair, realistic and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. He thanked the Turkic states and expressed the expectation that member countries would take their direct political, diplomatic, economic, trade, cultural, educational, tourism and transport ties with the TRNC to higher levels.