Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz visits northern Cyprus

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz arrived in the occupied northern part of Cyprus on Friday, September 18, 2026, for a two-day official visit. Upon his arrival at Ercan Airport, Yilmaz held a joint press conference with the Turkish Cypriot leader Unal Ustel. During his trip, Yilmaz is scheduled to attend several events, including a symposium on combating addiction, the opening of a memorial museum dedicated to Maratha, Santalaris, and Aloa, and the inauguration of a warehouse in Morphou on Saturday, which was constructed with Turkish funding.

Addressing the Cyprus issue, Yilmaz reaffirmed Turkey's support for the Turkish Cypriot entity, stating that the existence of two separate states on the island is a reality that cannot be ignored. He emphasized that Ankara will continue to cooperate with the northern authorities on various projects, specifically highlighting plans for fiber optic cables and natural gas infrastructure. These projects are expected to proceed despite opposition from the Republic of Cyprus. Yilmaz asserted that Turkey remains committed to its economic and political partnership with the northern administration, characterizing their relationship as an unbreakable bond.