Tatar: Turkic States Should Be Cautious with Their Relations with the Greek Side

Speaking about the agreement signed between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan—members of the Turkic States Organization (TSO)—and the European Union (EU), Tatar emphasized that "Turkic states should be more cautious with their relations with the Greek side."

President Tatar received the Vice-President of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB), Davut Günaydın, and his accompanying delegation at the Presidential office. During his remarks to Turkish journalists present at the meeting, Tatar noted that the agreement between some TSO member states and the EU was normal. "Since they entered into such a process in their relations with the EU, this situation has emerged. It is normal because these countries have various interests and projects with the EU, both in terms of the private sector and state affairs. As mentioned, there are material projects, financial contributions, and commercial opportunities that the EU can offer them," he said.

Tatar expressed that the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) has love and affection for all member states of the TSO and stated that being part of a union with countries that share the same culture and language is entirely natural.

EU’s Agreement Aimed at Blocking TRNC’s Recognition

Tatar added that while relations between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and other TSO member states and the TRNC have been developing, the EU, which had previously refrained from engaging with these countries in this manner, made the agreement with the underlying goal of blocking the TRNC's recognition, especially since it became an observer member of the organization in 2022.

Explaining that the Turkish thesis on Cyprus is based on a two-state solution, Tatar expressed his expectation that Turkish states should establish relations with the TRNC as much as they have with the Greek side. He also raised concerns over the references to UN resolutions included in the recent agreement between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the EU, warning that these issues might have been overlooked by the Turkish states.

Tatar asked, "Do they know where the consequences of these provisions will lead and who they will impact?" He wished the agreement between the EU and the Turkic states to be beneficial but added:

"Turkic states should be cautious in their relations with the Greek side. They can have relations with the EU, but the Greek Cypriots, who have sovereignty over only 800,000 people, are not the whole of Cyprus. Turkish states may establish relations with the Greek side, but they must be careful because the game played by the Greek Cypriots is entirely different. In fact, the game they are playing is beyond humanity. Until the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people are recognized, Turkish states should tell the Greek Cypriots to 'Wait.' I believe that 'we will meet again after an agreement is reached.'"