TRNC official hails Azerbaijani president's role in promoting Turkish Cypriot rights

Special Adviser to the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Diplomacy, Professor Hüseyin Işıkal, has praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the country’s authorities for their strong support of the TRNC and contribution to promoting the rights of its people on the international stage.

Speaking to journalists following the international forum “Towards a New World Order” held at ADA University in Baku, Hüseyin Işıkal said the Azerbaijani leader demonstrated a profound understanding of the history and realities of the Cyprus issue, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The professor expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani leadership for the opportunity to take part in such an important event and to ask a question directly to President Ilham Aliyev.

According to him, Azerbaijan has achieved significant success in organising various international events, establishing itself as a recognized platform for dialogue. “The international forum at ADA University is another clear example of this,” the special adviser to the TRNC leader noted.

"Once again, we witnessed that the people of the TRNC are not alone in their struggle for rights. We have the support not only of Türkiye but also of Azerbaijan. In the presence of experts from dozens of countries and live on many TV channels, the President of Azerbaijan clearly expressed his support for Northern Cyprus,” he said.

The special adviser also noted it is important for Lefkoşa that efforts to gain recognition for Turkish Cyprus do not harm the interests of friendly states.

“At this stage, it is crucial to comprehensively develop relations with Azerbaijan and other countries, including in the fields of economy, tourism, and education,” he stated, stressing that Baku’s approach to strengthening ties with Lefkoşa deserves the highest praise.

​Azerbaijan has been actively enhancing its relationship with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) through various diplomatic, political, and institutional initiatives. The country has consistently voiced support for the international recognition of the TRNC.

In November 2023, the ruling parties of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and the TRNC signed a cooperation agreement under the motto "three states, one nation." This agreement aims to strengthen political relations and institutional ties among the three parties.

Baku also supported the TRNC's participation as an observer in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

By Khagan Isayev