Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz visits northern Cyprus

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz conducted a two-day visit to the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, beginning on September 18, 2026. Arriving at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport, Yilmaz met with the local leader Unal Ustel to discuss bilateral cooperation, explicitly asserting the existence of two separate states on the island. He declared that this reality cannot be ignored and must form the basis of any future settlement, framing the unrecognized Turkish Cypriot entity as a sovereign partner.

During his visit, Yilmaz participated in various commemorative events, including the inauguration of a museum dedicated to martyrs from Maratha, Sandallari, and Aloa. He also announced that Turkey will proceed with infrastructure projects involving fiber optics and natural gas pipelines, dismissing concerns raised by the Republic of Cyprus. Yilmaz characterized these projects as essential for the economic development of the region and vowed to continue supporting the Turkish Cypriot side in its pursuit of international recognition while criticizing the Nicosia administration for its international diplomatic choices.