Erdoğan hosts TRNC PM Üstel in Ankara, reaffirms strong ties on birthday visit

2026-02-26 - 21:32

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel at the Presidential Complex in Ankara Thursday for talks focused on bilateral relations and regional developments. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also attended the meeting, underscoring the high-level engagement between Ankara and the TRNC. Warm Exchange and Birthday Wishes During the reception, Prime Minister Üstel extended birthday greetings to President Erdoğan, stating: "First of all, happy birthday. I'm glad you were born. I'm glad you are at the head of the Republic of Türkiye. You have created a strong Türkiye. As the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we feel serene with your strength." The personal remarks reflected the close bonds between the two leaders and the enduring alliance between Türkiye and the TRNC. Parliamentary Engagement Separately, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmuş met with Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Northern Cyprus Ziya Öztürkler in Ankara, continuing parliamentary-level dialogue. The meetings reaffirm Ankara's steadfast support for the TRNC and coordination between the two sides on matters of mutual interest, including the ongoing Cyprus issue and regional security concerns.