President Ersin Tatar said on Thursday that the Republic of Turkiye was a great state and a regional power.

“Maintaining our historic, political, economic and social ties with Turkiye are vital for the strengthening of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the national interests of the Turkish Cypriot people,” Tatar said whilst receiving a delegation from the Antalya Sustainable Economic Community (SET).

The TRNC President also said that Turkiye and the TRNC had joint geopolitical and geostrategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly with the discovery of hydrocarbons in the area.

“Cyprus is no longer the old Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean is no longer the old Eastern Mediterranean. The Republic of Turkiye is now stronger than ever with greater ambitions and goals,” he said, defending the Blue Homeland doctrine.

Tatar also said that contacts with Turkish businessmen will continue in the period ahead wishing the SET success in its work.