Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu received the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his accompanying delegation who held a one-day official visit in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In his speech at the reception, stating that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots act together for our national cause and they have opened a new page on the Cyprus issue by acting together, Minister Ertuğruloğlu said that 53 years have been wasted with the federation talks and the failure has been proven.

Expressing that they have taken steps to initiate a result-oriented negotiation process in this context, Minister Ertuğruloğlu stressed the importance of equalizing the international status of the two sides in order to achieve results.

Furthermore, pointing out the common interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people in both the Blue Homeland and the Island of Cyprus, and the key importance of the Island of Cyprus, Minister Ertuğruloğlu emphasized that Turkish Cypriots will protect its own rights in the Eastern Mediterranean together with Turkey.

In his speech, CHP Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stressed that they support the TRNC to take its place in the world as an independent, strong and respected state, adding that Cyprus issue is a national cause for Turkey.

Pointing out that they will resolutely protect the rights of both the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, Kılıçdaroğlu said that it is time for the TRNC to be recognized as an independent state and they will support every step to be taken.