President Tufan Erhürman: We are conducting the process on the Cyprus issue in harmony with the Republic of Türkiye

Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz: As the Republic of Türkiye, we are acting in very close consultation and coordination with the President

President Tufan Erhürman received the Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, and his accompanying delegation at the Presidency on Friday.

Also present at the meeting were the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, Alparslan Bayraktar; the Minister of Economy and Energy, Olgun Amcaoğlu; the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Lefkoşa, Ali Murat Başçeri; the Chairman of the Türkiye -- TRNC Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group and AK Party Konya MP, Orhan Erdem; Undersecretary to the Presidency Mehmet Dânâ; Chief of Staff of the Presidency Mustafa Ergüven; Advisor on Diplomacy and Foreign Relations İpek Borman; Advisor to the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Cahit Bağcı; and Chief Advisor to the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye and Coordinator for Cyprus Affairs, Yüksel Karadeniz.

Following the meeting, President Erhürman and Mr. Yılmaz made statements to the press.

President Erhürman stated that they had primarily discussed the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and recalled the meeting he held with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, prior to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF).

Stressing that they are conducting the process on the Cyprus issue in harmony with the Republic of Türkiye, President Erhürman said:

"As was confirmed during our recent meeting with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at Dolmabahçe Palace prior to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), I am extremely pleased that the harmony regarding the process we have been conducting has once again been reaffirmed. We have always stated that we would conduct this process through consultation, and we are indeed continuing to advance it through frequent consultations."

PRESIDENT ERHÜRMAN: WE ARE CONTINUING THE PROCESS THROUGH CONSULTATION

President Erhürman began his remarks by stating:
"Once again, I would like to warmly welcome the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz, and I thank him once again for this productive meeting."

Emphasising that they had primarily discussed the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue, President Erhürman referred to his meeting with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, prior to the ADF. Reiterating that they are conducting the process on the Cyprus issue in full harmony with the Republic of Türkiye, President Erhürman stated:

"As was confirmed recently during our meeting with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at Dolmabahçe Palace prior to the ADF, I am extremely pleased that the harmony regarding the process we have been conducting has once again been reaffirmed. We have always said that we would conduct this process through consultation with Türkiye, and we are indeed continuing to advance the process through regular consultations."

"CONTACTS WILL CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED"

Describing the natural gas initiative as "extremely exciting", the President added:

"From the perspective of the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, it is of great importance to us that this initiative provides reassurance, particularly in the field of energy. We also had the opportunity, on the occasion of this visit, to discuss a number of other matters. In particular, we once again reviewed the steps we can take together to support the opening up of the Turkish Cypriot people to the world through sport, as well as the measures we can jointly pursue in relation to the difficulties experienced recently regarding the property issue."

Referring to the recent NATO Summit held in Türkiye, President Erhürman extended his “congratulations on this extremely significant success”.

Stressing that their close consultations with Türkiye will continue, President Erhürman continued:

"We have the opportunity to remain in constant contact, and these contacts will continue uninterrupted. On this occasion, I once again convey my respects and greetings to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as my greetings and affection to the brotherly people of Türkiye."

CEVDET YILMAZ: AS THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE, WE ARE ACTING IN VERY CLOSE CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION WITH THE PRESIDENT

Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz, made the following statement:

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet with President Tufan Erhürman. Our reciprocal visits reflect the unshakeable bonds between our two States, our shared history and our common future.
"They are also a clear manifestation of the strong support that the Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye extends to the Turkish Cypriot people. During our meeting today with President Erhürman, we evaluated the steps that will further strengthen the solidarity between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I would particularly like to underline that, on strategic matters, international issues, our common cause and our national issues, as the Republic of Türkiye, we are acting in very close consultation and coordination with the President. We will continue in the same spirit in the period ahead"

"At the same time," Mr. Yılmaz continued, "as the Republic of Türkiye, we will continue to support all projects aimed at enhancing the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people, strengthening production capacity, and enabling our young people to enjoy a more prosperous future. Within the framework of the 2026 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement, we will continue our work in cooperation with the relevant authorities of the TRNC to implement the projects and actions envisaged under the Agreement."

"TÜRKİYE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BY THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A GUARANTOR STATE"

"During today's contacts, we also discussed the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue. We once again confirmed that we are in complete unity of thought and purpose on this matter. The freedom, rights and security of the Turkish Cypriots are not an ordinary foreign policy issue for Türkiye. They are the embodiment of our national cause.
I would like to emphasise once again that, with the responsibility that comes with being a Guarantor State, Türkiye will continue to stand by the Turkish Cypriot people at all times, defend their just cause on every platform, and mobilise all available means to help establish a just, lasting and sustainable settlement based on sovereign equality."

Mr. Yılmaz ended his statement by stating: "With these thoughts, I would like to sincerely thank the President for his gracious hospitality and kind welcome. I would also like to express that, God willing, we look forward to welcoming him to Türkiye on various occasions and at various meetings in the future."