The ECO summit, in which the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus participated as an observer member, was attended by heads of state and government officials from other member states.


The ECO summit, which was held between November 8-9, 2023, was held at the Tashkent Congress Centre. 


President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the meeting, also expressed his support for the TRNC in his address yesterday at the summit, and called upon ECO member states to support the TRNC and to form relations across different levels with the country. 


President Tatar conveyed a written message to the officials and representatives of member states, which reads as follows: 


“Esteemed Heads of State and Governments, His Excellencies, Her Excellencies,

Dear Secretary General,

Dear participants,

Es-Selamu Aleyküm,

I wholeheartedly greet you in my own name, the Turkish Cypriot People and the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.   

I would like to express my great pleasure to be here with you on the occasion of the 16th Economic Cooperation Organisation's Summit.  

I extend sincere gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and to our brothers and sisters of Uzbekistan for their hospitality and welcome.

I would also like to thank the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, for his support to us.

It is a distinct honour for me to be addressing you all at this very important Heads of State and Governments being represented at the Economic Cooperation Organisation that is being held in Tashkent, the ancient City of Uzbekistan, one of the centres of world civilisation, located on the crossroads of the Great Silk Road.

I would like to start my speech by underlining the urgent need to stop the ongoing violence against the civilian people of Gaza as soon as possible, and to end the prevailing human tragedy being lived there. 

As the President of the Turkish Cypriot People who suffered similar violence, it is my greatest wish that the pain and tears will cease and that mechanisms to ensure the security of the Palestinian People will be provided as early as possible. I would also like to indicate that we are ready to provide support and fulfil any duty that is needed for this purpose.  

Dear Heads of State and Governments,

The Turkish Cypriot State/Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is fully committed to meeting the 2025 targets and vision of the Economic Cooperation Organisation. As it is known, our State has been participating in the facilities and events of the organisation since 1992.

Ever since 2012 – when the Turkish Cypriot State had gained observer status, we have been actively engaged in contributing to the workings of the organisation.

Within this framework, I would like to emphasise that we are ready to contribute to the areas of cooperation in the fields of "trade, transportation and connectivity, energy, tourism, economic growth, efficiency, social welfare and environment" as specified in Vision 2025. In addition, our higher education institutions are ready to create areas of cooperation with brotherly member states.

We hope and trust that our observer membership will be made permanent within the framework of the reform efforts envisaged by our Organisation. In accordance with the rights and obligations of our Organisation, I believe that the opportunity of observer members to attend every meeting without needing the approval of the Permanent Representatives Council, as is the case now, will also contribute positively to internal ECO relations.

Esteemed Leaders, 

We are at a very crucial turning point with regards to the Cyprus issue. Despite the persistent good will, arduous efforts and constructive stance of the Turkish Cypriot Side to reach a solution to the Cyprus issue – we are saying that the time has come to open a new page for the Island of Cyprus. Since numerous negotiations processes based for a bizonal, bicommunal federation have failed – lastly in the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan of 2004, and the collapse of the process again in Crans-Montana in 2017 due to the Greek Cypriot Side’s refusal to share power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriot Side, the time has come to talk about a two State settlement, based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two Sides that co-exist as two friendly neighbours in a cooperative relationship.  I have conveyed our position, that is fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye, to the UN Secretary-General.

The Turkish Cypriot Side believes that a realistic and sustainable settlement can be reached with the accepted realities and facts on the ground on the Island of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot People have inherent equal rights, are an independent and sovereign People with rights to self-determination. My People, as one of the co-founders of the partnership Republic of Cyprus, were expelled from the state apparatus by force of arms in December 1963.  We have been forced to govern ourselves as a State ever since, and it has been the Greek Cypriot Side who have rejected any power sharing agreement with us, because of the hegemonic mentality they have towards us. 

Following my election as the President, the Cyprus issue can only result in a fair and lasting compromise on the basis of the new vision I put forward on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People. There are two separate Peoples and two separate States on the island of Cyprus. A sustainable compromise on the island of Cyprus can be found through the cooperation of the two States on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status. A new and formal process can only begin with the affirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status. Works are currently ongoing with the UN to determine whether there is a common ground between the two parties for a new and formal process.

Dear esteemed participants,

We continue our honourable struggle for the Turkish Cypriot People to take their rightful place in the international arena. I would like to draw your attention to the historical addresses by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at first the 77th and 78th sessions of the UN General Assemblies of the United Nations. President Erdoğan has called upon world leaders and States to recognise the independence of the TRNC, and to establish diplomatic, political and economic relations with us.

I reiterate my gratitude to President Erdoğan for the valuable support he has always given and continues to provide across all fields and levels to my People and country.   Our fight for justice, ending the inhumane isolation and restrictions on the Turkish Cypriot People that is in violation of our human rights continues.  The Turkish Cypriot People cannot even trade directly, enjoy direct flights to any other country except Türkiye, and our youth and athletes cannot participate in many important international sports organisations, to name a few.

Last year, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus gained observer status under its constitutional name at the Organisation of Turkic States. Following this important development, we continue to represent our State in various meetings of this organisation across different levels including the Presidency, Parliament, our Ministers and our Chamber of Commerce.

Last month, I paid a visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and met with my brother and friend, His Excellency İlham Aliyev, in Baku. I express my gratitude to President Aliyev and to the People of Azerbaijan for their hospitality to me and my delegation. The unjust isolation and restrictions can be overcome through our unity and solidarity.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be commemorating its 40th anniversary next week. Our state continues to develop despite the cruel, inhumane isolation imposed on us. We attach great importance to higher education. Today, our quality universities offer world-class education to 120,000 students from 154 countries with academics from 65 countries.

TRNC, which is privileged in having clean sandy beaches, rich with historical sites of past civilisations and empires, and has a moderate climate, has become a popular destination, attracting 6 million tourists and people every year.

Approximately 1 million of these visitors use any one of our 164 hotel and accommodation facilities, 23 of which are 5-star hotels. Our country has a great tourism potential with a bed capacity of over 26,000, conference halls and marinas.

Dear participants,

We believe that it is time for the Turkish Cypriot People to take their righteous place in the international arena. As we continue this honourable struggle, the support of you, the esteemed Heads of States and Government give, is of vital importance for us. I believe that we can overcome the inhumane isolation imposed on my people with solidarity, and I would like to reiterate once again that we are ready for cooperation in all fields.

As I conclude my speech with these thoughts, I reiterate my good wishes, greetings to Your Excellencies and esteemed guests.

Thank You.”