Minister Arıklı: It is our duty to perpetuate the TRNC
Date Added: 16 December 2022

The Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı pointed out that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the second oldest Turkish state in the Organization of Turkic States and said “it is our duty to perpetuate the TRNC.”

Noting that talks on a federation had been held with Greek Cypriots for years, Arıklı said “federation means eliminating the TRNC and establishing a new state with the Greek Cypriots. We cannot destroy the state we have established with our own hands.”

The Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı received the President of the İstanbul-Türkiye Azerbaijan Solidarity and Culture Association Sefer Karakoyunlu and his accompanying delegation on Thursday.

The President of the Association Karakoyunlu expressed his delight that the TRNC has become an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States.

Minister Arıklı for his part said that the TRNC’s admission to the Organization of Turkic States as an observer member was met with great enthusiasm in the country.

Noting that federation talks had been held with Greek Cypriots for years, Arıklı reiterated that a federation means eliminating the TRNC and establishing a new state with the Greek Cypriots.

“We cannot destroy the state we have established with our own hands” he said. Stating that the UN and EU took a pro-Greek Cypriot stance in the federation talks, he said “they asked us to destroy our state and establish a common state. We have struggled with this for years.”

Stressing that the federation talks were over with the new policy put forward together with Türkiye, Arıklı referred to the call made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the UN.

“Strong efforts have been initiated at this point for the recognition of the TRNC. The first fruits of Erdogan’s call at the UN began with our acceptance as an observer member to the Organization of the Turkic States. From now on, we are working hard with our homeland to make the TRNC a better place and a country that can support itself and it is our duty to make the TRNC eternal” said Arıklı.