The Deputy Foreign Minister of Türkiye Yasin Ekrem Serim held contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

President Ersin Tatar, who received Serim on Monday, said “the TRNC plays a key role in maintaining the balance in the region.”

President Ersin Tatar conveyed his respect and greetings to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and expressed his pleasure to see Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim.

Expressing that there had been important developments in the last two years, President Tatar said that much progress has been achieved as a result of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s determined stance on the Cyprus issue as well as the contacts of the Turkish government and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Stating that official negotiations can only start as and when the Turkish Cypriot people’s international equal status and rights are recognized, Tatar drew attention to the importance of the historic call made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the UN General Assembly, and the recent admission of the TRNC as an observer member to the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

Stating that there was no turning back from the two-state policy, the President noted that the TRNC played a key role in maintaining the balance in the region.

Stressing the importance of the continuation of Türkiye’s guarantees for the security and well-being of the Turkish Cypriot people, President Tatar stated that the continuation of the Turkish army’s presence on the island as a deterrent force was an indispensable criterion for the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim, who stated that he was in the TRNC to discuss international developments in the context of the Cyprus issue said that they acted with an idea that the TRNC was never alone and deserved the best.