Turkish Cyprus seeks to improve relations with Azerbaijan
Ersin Tatar, president of the non-recognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) stated that he expects the TRNC's cultural, economic, and social connections with Azerbaijan to grow on all levels and be politically productive.
Tatar extended his greetings to all Azerbaijanis, stressing that the TRNC is a state and a Turkic country in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Despite a succession of diplomatic efforts by the United Nations to seek a comprehensive settlement, the island of Cyprus has been engaged in a decades-long conflict between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Since 1964, Turkish Cypriots to flee to enclaves for protection and the island has been politicly split. In 1974, Turkey intervened militarily and in 1983, the TRNC was established. The TRNC is officially recognised as a distinct and independent state solely by Turkey.
"He (Ilham Aliyev) will undoubtedly have a message for us in the near future," Tatar early remarked on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's birthday on December 24.
"I know that our Azerbaijani brothers are deeply devoted to us. Wherever I met with our Azerbaijani brothers in the world, I saw that their hearts are with us, and our hearts are with them. This also made me very happy. I hope that the cultural, economic and social ties between us will be developed with all kinds of human relations and will be crowned politically," he concluded.
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (an exclave of Azerbaijan) issued a resolution in the mid-1990s recognising the TRNC's independence, but Azerbaijan itself has yet refrained to officially supporting this decision due to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and recognises the Republic of Cyprus.
Earlier, on 15 July 2021, the delegation of the foreign affairs and inter-parliamentary relations committee of Azerbaijan’s parliament visited the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the first time.
The delegation headed by Samad Seyidov was received by TRNC President Ersin Tatar, Speaker Onder Sennaroglu, and Prime Minister Ersan Saner, respectively.
On 20 July 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was on a visit to Northern Cyprus, expressed hope that high-level visits from Azerbaijan to the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will continue. He told the journalist about this after the holiday prayer for Gurban Bayram at the Hala Sultan Mosque.
Answering the question about the possibility of Azerbaijan's recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Turkish leader noted that there are no doubts in this matter. "We are constantly discussing this topic with my brother Ilham Aliyev," Erdogan said.