President Tatar addresses OTS Summit in Shusha, Azerbaijan

The President has addressed the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS),that is being held in Shusha, Azerbaijan.

President Ersin Tatar emphasized that with the membership of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the Organisation of Turkic States, the connection between the Turkic world and the Mediterranean has been established.

Being held under the theme “Building a Sustainable Future through Transport, Connectivity and Climate Action”, the Summit started with the speech of President Aliyev – who had earlier welcomed all heads of state to the two-day summit.

President Tatar stated that he was “pleased to be participating in and addressing the important summit of the OTS, that is being held in Shusha, the spiritual capital of the Turkic World, in these beautiful liberated lands which is being held under the theme: Building a Sustainable Future through Transport, Connectivity and Climate Action”.

In reference to “transportation and connectivity” – which is part of the theme of the OTS summit, President Tatar pointed out that he believes “Ercan Airport, Port of Gemikonağı and the internationally recognised Port of Gazimağusa of the TRNC provide various opportunities for the Organisation of Turkic States”.

“Our ultimate goal in this field is to make TRNC a regional hub in civil aviation and a reliable transit country in maritime transportation,” President Tatar said.

President Tatar stated that an “application has been made to the Secretariat of the Organisation of Turkic States by our relevant Ministry for the inclusion of the Port of Gazimağusa in the Sister Ports Programme of the Organisation of Turkic States”. He said the expectation of the Turkish Cypriot people is that the “request of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be included in the Sister Ports Memorandum of Understanding will be reciprocated positively”.

“The inclusion of the Port of Gazimağusa in the Sister Ports program of the OTS will not only be very supportive to the Turkish Cypriot People, it will also give an important message against the unjust and unlawful isolation and oppression imposed on the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.

Pointing to the OTS “Turkic World Vision 2040” document, which was approved by the Heads of State at the 8th Summit of the OTS on November 12, 2021, President Tatar said: “Special importance is given in this document to the development of economic relations between our family council and within this framework, emphasis is made that cooperation in the fields of transportation and logistics should be strengthened in our organisation.”

“I salute our determination to strengthen cooperation in the Vision Document,” President Tatar said. “Particularly with regards to the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and the Zangezur Corridor. I would like to express that we are ready to make every contribution we can.”

President Tatar also put forward his new two State position as a basis for a settlement in the Island of Cyprus – which he said is supported by Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye.

President Tatar along with other Heads of State attended the signing ceremony of the Karabagh Declaration at the Khurshidbanu Natavan Palace.