Meeting of the Turks disturbed the Greek Cypriot Administration

The Extraordinary Summit Meeting of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Ankara. The use of the flag of the Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus in the meeting disturbed the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The Extraordinary Summit Meeting of the Organization of Turkish States, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, disturbed the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA). Greek Cypriot Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis said that they took preventive actions before Organization of Turkish States member and observer states due to the use of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) flag at the meeting.

Gotsis emphasized that it is unacceptable to use the symbols of the TRNC in the presence of Hungarian officials, a member of the European Union (EU), and that the deep discomfort felt by Southern Cyprus was conveyed to Budapest. Stating that Hungary was asked for an explanation, Gotsis said, "Our Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos will convey our discomfort to his Hungarian counterpart at the EU Foreign Ministers Council meeting."

'POSED HAPPILY'

The representation of the TRNC with the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the use of its flag received wide coverage in the Greek Cypriot press. ANT1 channel said, "Ersin Tatar posed happily in front of the fake state's flag with the leaders of the countries participating in the meeting." Many newspapers published in the Greek part also carried the information that President Tatar seemed happy during his speech at the summit.

TATAR: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US

On the other hand, President of the TRNC Tatar said, “It was really meaningful for us to take part in such an international meeting with our constitutional name, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for the first time, to attend the meeting with other heads of state, to make speeches and to give photographs together in front of those flags. We made a note of history.” Stressing that their participation in the summit as an observer member is an "important milestone" in the TRNC's struggle for independence and freedom of the Turkish Cypriot people, Tatar said, "The TRNC made an important step by attending the meeting at Organization of Turkish States. We proved once again to the whole world that the Turkish Cypriots are a sovereign and separate state. I would like to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and those who contributed to the organization of the meeting. There is a Turkish state on the island. They need to see this now."