AKP Deputy Chairman Zorlu: The Greek Cypriot side constantly fled the table, left the extended hand unanswered

Zorlu made evaluations to members of the press during his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Stating that Turkey has stood by the TRNC's rightful struggle from the very beginning, Zorlu said that Turkey, as a guarantor country, will continue to be the assurance of the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Emphasizing that the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people based on sovereign equality and equal international status will continue, Zorlu referred to past negotiation processes, saying, "The rightful struggle of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus draws its strength from history; the Republic of Turkey has stood by this struggle from the very beginning and, as a guarantor country, is the assurance of the existence of the Turkish Cypriots here, and this stance, conducted in the context of sovereign equality and equal international status, will continue from now on.

Because when we recall the past a little, despite all the courageous steps taken by the Turkish Cypriots here, and despite their efforts for negotiation, diplomacy, and peace, and the determined will they have shown in this direction, the Greek Cypriot side has constantly fled the table and left the extended hand unanswered.

And today, due to these mistakes and manipulations they have made, the Turkish Cypriots have been under an embargo and isolation for many years. But we never falter in this struggle. Because Turkey, together with the Turkic world, has opened a new door of hope for the Turkish Cypriots," he said.

"It is a historic turning point where the 60-year-long embargoes have been clearly breached here"

Stating that the TRNC becoming an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States in 2022 was a historic development, Zorlu expressed that this is an important turning point in terms of overcoming the embargoes that have been applied for years. Zorlu said, "The participation of Northern Cyprus as an observer member in the Organization of Turkic States in 2022 is not an ordinary event. It is a historic development. It is a historic turning point where the embargoes that have lasted for perhaps 60 years have been clearly breached here. We are now striving to flesh this out and carry it into the future with concrete projects in every field, including trade, economy, transportation, energy, culture, and art," he said.

"We must put forward more effective efforts for the promotion of the TRNC"

Stating that institutions should act together, Zorlu emphasized that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus needs to be promoted more effectively in the international arena and said that he would take initiatives on this matter as soon as he returns to Turkey. Zorlu said, "I believe that with this at the center, when our institutions come together—which is my biggest suggestion and call—we must put forward more effective efforts regarding the promotion of Northern Cyprus in different geographies, especially in the Turkic world.

I will take the necessary initiatives on this matter as soon as I return to Turkey. We also had a meeting with the President.

We brought this issue to the agenda as well. And I believe that when we show this determined stance, both the motivation and the determined stance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot people will gain much more clarity," he stated.

"A great energy corridor extending from the Caspian to the Caucasus, and from there to the Middle East and the Mediterranean is being built"

Touching upon the importance of energy corridors extending from the Caspian to the Caucasus, and from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, Zorlu stated that this is not limited to energy alone, saying, "Look, a great energy corridor extending from the Caspian to the Caucasus, and from there to the Middle East and the Mediterranean is being built. We cannot see this only as energy. This means tourism, this means human mobility. We are talking about a great capacity in many fields. The point that is actually targeted by the circles that cannot accept or want this presence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Turkic world is that this great capacity will be transported to the Mediterranean," he said.

"We will do our best to further strengthen the relations between the TRNC and the Turkic States"

Expressing that this approach of Turkey is based on an understanding of peace and prosperity, Zorlu said, "Why do we want this as Turkey? Because of our understanding of diplomacy aimed at ensuring peace, tranquility, and a collective increase in prosperity. Our President's expression 'The world is bigger than five' has essentially become a very important symbol and banner of this historic test in the Eastern Mediterranean. We will be in search of this and make efforts for it. And hopefully, from now on, we will do our best to further strengthen the relations between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkic States. Today, we see in this meaningful meeting that there are participants from almost every corner of the Turkic world. From Aleppo, Kirkuk, Skopje, Baku. This has been a strong start for all of us. I say it is time to understand and interpret every phase of this well in the coming years, with much broader participation, from Chingiz Aitmatov to Dede Korkut, from the Göktürks to the Karakhanids, to the great struggle and war of independence experienced by the Turkish Cypriots, and to explain it to the world," he said.