Ertuğruloğlu addresses OIC Member States in Baghdad: “Take concrete and timely steps to end unjust isolation”

The 52^nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held in Baghdad, the capital of the Republic of Iraq on 17­ — 18 October 2026, under the theme “Dialogue and Solidarity”. On the final day of the session, Minister Ertuğruloğlu delivered an address on behalf of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot people.

The full text of Minister Ertuğruloğlu’s address is as follows:

“It is a distinct honour for me to address the 52^nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the historic city of Baghdad. I extend to you all the heartfelt greetings of the Turkish Cypriot people and the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

At the outset, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the dedicated staff of the Secretariat, the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Fuad Hussein, as well as the Government of the Republic of Iraq for their outstanding efforts in organizing this important meeting.

I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Executive Board of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) for unanimously selecting our capital city Lefkoşa, as the OIC Youth Capital for 2027, during its 18th meeting gathered in Konya, Türkiye, on 29 September 2026. I extend my sincere thanks to the board members for supporting and approving our application.

We convene here today, under the theme of “Dialogue and Solidarity”, at a time of profound transformation in international relations. The world is facing heightened geopolitical tensions, humanitarian crises and the persistence of islamophobia. While respect for international law and the effectiveness of collective diplomatic action is increasingly being tested, civilians across multiple regions continue to bear the heaviest burden of conflict.

These challenges underscore the persistent need for greater dialogue and cooperation for the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Against this backdrop, the call for dialogue and solidarity carries particular significance.

The principle of solidarity is equally dear to the Turkish Cypriot people who have spent more than six decades striving to safeguard their inherent rights, dignity and survival on the island of Cyprus.

You will recall that the Turkish Cypriot people endured systematic persecution and isolation in besieged enclaves under harsh and inhumane conditions between 1963-1974. It was Türkiye’s timely intervention in 1974, following the coup d’etat on the island by Greece and Greek Cypriots, which brought an end to this dark period and saved the lives of the Turkish Cypriots.

The Turkish Cypriot side is ready to reach a fair, lasting and sustainable agreement with the Greek Cypriot side based on our inherent rights of sovereign equality and equal international status. We would like to reiterate that we cannot afford to waste another fifty years to negotiate on an exhausted model as we have advocated for a new basis with a view to establishing a cooperative relationship between the two existing independent and sovereign states on the island of Cyprus since 2021.

We attach particular importance to our engagement with the organization of Islamic Cooperation. The consistent participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the meetings of the OIC at all levels, as well as our continued engagement with its subsidiary, affiliated and specialised organs, reflects our commitment to the Organization and its objectives. As an observer member of the OIC, we remain determined to further strengthen our cooperation and contribute actively to the collective efforts of the Organization.

However, due to the international community’s biased approach in favour of the Greek Cypriots, together with the inhumane embargoes and unjustified isolation imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot people and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, our youth, athletes, artists and academicians continue to face obstacles to participating fully in international activities.

Therefore, the solidarity and support of the brotherly OIC member states are of utmost importance to us in our struggle to live in peace, security and dignity in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In this respect, we call upon the member states of the OIC to take concrete and timely steps to end the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people and to develop closer relations with us.

Furthermore, I would like to express the deepest gratitude of the Turkish Cypriot people to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Türkiye, for his consecutive speeches since the 77^th General Assembly, openly calling upon member states of the United Nations to recognize the independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to establish diplomatic, political and economic relations with our country.

I take this opportunity to reiterate, once again, our call upon the member states of the OIC, to lead the way in supporting the rightful and legitimate cause of the Turkish Cypriot people and to further strengthen their bonds with the Turkish Cypriot people in all fields.”