Erdoğan Urges International Recognition of TRNC at UN General Assembly

“I invite the international community to recognize the TRNC and establish diplomatic, political and economic relations with it,” Erdoğan said.

He stressed that projects in the Eastern Mediterranean that exclude Turkey and the TRNC “cannot succeed,” and urged an end to what he described as the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots for more than half a century.

“There are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are co-owners of the island and will never accept being treated as a minority,” he stated.

Erdoğan reiterated that a solution to the Cyprus issue cannot be based on the “federation model,” which has repeatedly failed due to what he described as the Greek Cypriot side’s uncompromising stance.

“We want the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean to become zones of stability where the legitimate interests of all parties are respected. We are ready for constructive cooperation on every issue. I once again invite the international community to recognize the TRNC and establish diplomatic, political and economic ties,” Erdoğan concluded.