Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu has said that he sees the Cyprus Issue as a national cause and that he believes that the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people will be broken sooner or later.

He also said he believed that recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was not too far away and would happen in time.

In an interview with the TAK and Anadolu News Agencies, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu said that he approached the Cyprus Issue as a national cause and that the island had a very unique place for him.

He added that they will continue to work towards removing the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people and for the recognition of the TRNC.

“It’s important that we work towards creating a TRNC that is strong and that can stand on its own feet,” Feyzioğlu said.

Pointing out that the TRNC government had launched the Maraş initiative which aimed to reopen the fenced-off town, the Turkish ambassador said that all steps taken on the issue were in accordance with international law, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the TRNC Immovable Property Commission.

“Türkiye will continue to support this process. Cyprus for us is not just an ‘issue’, it is a ‘national cause,” he said.

Feyzioğlu said that the strength of the TRNC derived from its just cause.

“Every claim made by the Greek Cypriot side regarding the TRNC is unjust and baseless. The UN General Assembly’s and the international community’s stance towards the TRNC is also wrong,” he said, adding that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus possessed all necessary criteria and conditions required of a state.

He pointed out that international recognition was not a requirement of being a state and that the embargoes imposed on the TRNC were not within the framework of law but politics.

Also touching upon Türkiye’s infrastructure projects and plans in the TRNC, Feyzioğlu said that it was his desire to see electricity brought to the island from Türkiye the same way water had been brought to Cyprus.

“Work is currently being carried out to do this,” he said.