On October 14, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received Ersin Tatar, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [de-facto state recognized only by Turkey and its territory is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus], the Press Office of the Azerbaijani president reported.

During the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with the expansion of relations based on historical bonds among the peoples of the Turkic world and the existence of opportunities for enhancing humanitarian, cultural, educational, and sports cooperation between the peoples. The meeting also addressed the activity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an observer at the Organization of Turkic States. They noted that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus had had an observer status for a long time at the Economic Cooperation Organization and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. For this reason, according to the politicians, the observer status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the Organization of Turkic States is logical. The meeting also discussed cooperation in tourism, science, and student exchange.

In this context, the president of Azerbaijan highlighted the role of the Organization of Turkic States as an effective platform and expressed hope that the peoples of the Turkic world would develop their relations in various fields. The head of state pointed out that Azerbaijan had always contributed to the closer unity of the Turkic world and would remain committed to the ideas of Turkic world unity.

Ersin Tatar, for his part, congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on Azerbaijan’s fully restoring its sovereignty. He also expressed contentment with the events held in Baku as part of the Days of Culture of Northern Cyprus and thanked the President of Azerbaijan for the conditions created.

Recently, rumors circulated in the Azerbaijani media that Azerbaijan may recognize the independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The de-facto Turkish Cypriot Federal State was established in 1976 as a result of the Cyprus Movement that started in 1974. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared its independence. In 1992, relations between the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan and Northern Cyprus were established. The official representative office of Northern Cyprus operates in Baku.