High-level meetings were held within the framework of the Peace and Freedom Day celebrations

From 19 to 21 July 2025, as part of the Peace and Freedom Day celebrations, the TURKPA delegation, led by the Secretary General of TURKPA, was received by the top leadership of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The delegation was received by President of the TRNC Ersin Tatar, Speaker of the Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu. During the meeting, President Ersin Tatar warmly welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with the Turkic World through enhanced parliamentary and cultural diplomacy. He highlighted the significance of the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and underlined the enduring impact of this historic intervention, which ensured the continued presence of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island. Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er, in his remarks, expressed his pleasure at being in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the occasion of the 20 July Peace and Freedom Day. Stressing that the TRNC, as an inseparable part of the Turkic World, had joined the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States as an observer member, Mr. Er described this as a significant development. He concluded by expressing his hope for the successful outcome of efforts toward the international recognition of the TRNC. During the meeting with Speaker of the Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, discussions focused on the relationship between the TRNC and the Turkic World, as well as the strategic role of TURKPA on the international stage. The Speaker emphasized that TURKPA, as a diplomatic platform of brotherhood and solidarity, makes a significant contribution to enhancing the visibility and representation of the TRNC. He also underlined the importance attributed to the TRNC during the TURKPA Plenary Session. In conclusion, Mr. Öztürkler expressed confidence that cooperation among the Turkic states would continue to grow and strengthen dynamically. Prime Minister Ünal Üstel emphasized that the 1974 Peace Operation was a historic turning point that secured the freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people, with Türkiye’s unwavering support playing a key role. He noted that the TRNC’s observer status in the Organization of Turkic States and TURKPA represents a crucial step toward deeper integration with the Turkic World, highlighting growing political and cultural solidarity. In his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, the importance of the support extended to Cyprus — also emphasized during the TURKPA plenary session — was discussed. The Minister stated that the TRNC continues its efforts to gain the international recognition that Turkish Cypriots rightfully deserves. In this context, he particularly underlined the value of the support provided by Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er was accompanied by the staff members of the TURKPA Secretariat Furkan Bilal Akyüz and Emin Salmanov.