Ertugruloglu calls for recognition of Turkish Cypriot state at OIC meeting in New York

During the annual coordination meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in New York, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Turkish Cypriot 'foreign minister' Tahsin Ertugruloglu addressed the ongoing Cyprus issue. He called on OIC member states to take concrete steps to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot entity and to improve bilateral relations.

Ertugruloglu justified the presence of his administration by claiming the Turkish Cypriot population faced systematic persecution between 1963 and 1974. He asserted that Turkey's 1974 military intervention prevented further violence against both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Drawing a parallel to current events, he condemned the situation in Palestine, labeling it a genocide and a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.

These remarks continue the established narrative of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, which advocates for a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem. By aligning the Turkish Cypriot experience with that of the Palestinians, Ertugruloglu sought to leverage diplomatic support from Islamic nations to challenge the status quo regarding the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus.