Yasin Ekrem Serim Calls on International Community for Recognition of TRNC

Serim emphasized that the United Nations has officially acknowledged the lack of a common ground for a federation model, asserting, “There are two separate states and two distinct peoples on the island. The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots must be urgently reaffirmed.”

The ambassador expressed Turkey's desire to see the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean as a region of stability and prosperity, where the legitimate interests of all parties are respected. He underscored the importance of delimiting maritime jurisdictions according to international law, ensuring freedom and security of navigation, and enhancing cooperation on maritime trade, as these are in the common interest of the entire region.

Noting that Turkey has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, Serim highlighted that both Turkey's rights in the continental shelf declared to the north and west of the island and the rights of Turkish Cypriots to the entirety of Cyprus and its surrounding areas cannot be denied. He reiterated Turkey's and the TRNC's readiness for constructive cooperation with their neighbors, stating, “We expect our neighbors to demonstrate the same approach.”