Çavuşoğlu addresses ECO meeting
9 November, 2026
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “We will never leave the Turkish Cypriot people alone or helpless. The whole world must know and remember this. The Cyprus cause is not merely a foreign policy issue for us. We do not consider the absence of a settlement in Cyprus, and we remain firmly committed to the two-state solution.”
According to Anadolu Agency (AA), Erdoğan made the remarks aboard his plane on his return to Türkiye following his visit to Azerbaijan, where he also responded questions from journalists.
Asked about Türkiye’s expectations for the near future and possible steps in the coming period, particularly in light of calls for the recognition and support of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the Organisation of Turkic States summit and other international platforms, Erdoğan said:
“We will never leave the Turkish Cypriot people alone or helpless. The whole world must know and remember this. The Cyprus cause is not merely a foreign policy issue for us. We do not consider the absence of a settlement in Cyprus, and we remain firmly committed to the two-state solution.
“Our position on Cyprus is extremely clear and unequivocal. The reality that there are two distinct peoples and two separate states on the island must now be recognised. Models that have been tried repeatedly and have failed each time due to various manoeuvres are a waste of time and energy.
“I call on all countries, particularly our friendly and brotherly nations, to support lasting peace on the island of Cyprus by recognising the TRNC and establishing political, diplomatic and economic relations with it. As I said from the podium of the United Nations, the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people must be recognised, and the inhumane isolation to which they have been subjected must finally come to an end.”
Emphasising that Türkiye would continue to take steps in line with the same call in the new period, Erdoğan said:
“We will continue to stand by the TRNC on international platforms. Initiatives and projects aimed at enhancing the international visibility of the TRNC will continue. The Cyprus issue is a national cause that we will pursue until justice is achieved. Everyone must now understand this.”