Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has said that the support to be given to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by Türkiye and Azerbaijan will contribute to the TRNC’s promotion in the international arena.

Üstel’s words came during a visit paid to him by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş and New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman Tahir Budaqov and their accompanying delegations who are in the TRNC for contacts.

Relations between the three countries were discussed during the meeting.

Receiving the Justice and Development Party’s Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş and New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman Tahir Budaqov and their accompanying delegations on Monday, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said that he was pleased that representatives of the three ruling parties met in the TRNC.

The National Unity Party’s (UBP) General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu and Deputy Resmiye Canaltay were also present at the meeting at the UBP Headquarters.

Reminding that peace had come to Cyprus with the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation, Prime Minister Üstel noted that both Turkish Cypriots and Azerbaijan had endured great suffering and experienced difficult times.

He said the TRNC shared their pain and sorrow.

Drawing attention to the economic embargoes imposed on the TRNC, the premier said that the Turkish Cypriots had successfully bypassed the embargoes with the support of motherland Türkiye, the people of Anatolia and the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

On the Cyprus Issue, he noted that the 50-year-long federation talks in Cyprus had now come to an end and that they supported the new policy of President Ersin Tatar.

He also stressed that talks in Cyprus can only be based on two equal sovereign states.

Also speaking, the New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman Tahir Budaqov drew attention to the unique relations that existed between their respective states.

He added that they will do their best to strengthen the TRNC in the political arena.

Noting that Azerbaijan always felt Türkiye’s support, Budaqov expressed his belief that political and humanitarian relations will continue to increase.

AKP Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş for his part noted that as the New Azerbaijan Party, the UBP and the AKP, they had taken steps to maintain their tripartite contacts more smoothly in the future.

“I hope that political parties in other friendly and brotherly countries will also participate in these efforts” Kurtulmuş said.

Stating that he was pleased to be in Northern Cyprus, he said “it is very meaningful that political parties came together as one nation, 3 states, and as the civilian representatives of those 3 states. We will hold a meeting where we will discuss regional issues, issues that concern us and the steps we will take for the future. I hope that we will continue our activities with a very productive and important meeting today.”