Ambassador Kop Speaks on TRNC’s Progress and International Recognition Efforts

By Naveed Ahmad Khan                                Photo by Sultan Bashir

Islamabad: Ambassador of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC),  Ms. Buket Kop, hosted a reception to mark the 42nd anniversary of the proclamation of TRNC.

The Naeem Iqbal Cheema,Director General (Afghanistan, Iran & Turkey ) Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the guest of honour. The event attended by Ambassador of Türkiye Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Philippine, Sudan, Ethiopia and  Saleem Saif Ullah Khan, Sitara Ayaz, Sehar Kamran, Dr. Ramaish Kumar,  Ambassador Sohail Mehmood,Ambassador Khalid Mehmood and media persons were  also present.

In her speech ambassador Kop said “I visited TRNC some 13 years ago as state guest thanks to the then Representative Mustafa Evran’s consideration that he did to my work on international relations.”

“We with  Evran did a lot of work on the promotion of information of TRNC in Pakistani people and officials. I remained in touch with  Ali Santel,  Mehmet Davulcu and  Dilshod Senol later on,” she added.

Cyprus is actually Island of Qabras that was in the rule of Muslims for centuries. Greeks were about to occupy the island in 1974 when Turkish population stood for their right of freedom and established a state that is now called TRNC.

“Our cooperation and support for TRNC will continue like the past 1.5 decade to assert its statehood and get it acknowledged by the world and United Nations,” the ambassador further noted.

Turkish Cypriots first proclaimed North Cyprus in 1975, a year after the split with the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was established on 15 November 1983, by the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkish Cypriot Leader/Northern Cypriot State President Rauf Denktash.

The ambassador emphasized the profound significance of the national day, particularly in the context of the TRNC’s recent admission to the International Forum Organization of Turkic States. The celebration highlighted the deep-rooted diplomatic, cultural, and historical ties binding Pakistan and the TRNC.

The TRNC has made remarkable strides in democracy, economy, socio-legal equality, and human rights, establishing itself at the forefront of the Eastern Mediterranean in higher education and tourism.

As an observant member of the Organization of Islamic Countries and the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continues to play a pivotal role in regional collaboration.

The gathering featured a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the occasion, highlighting the long-standing ties and friendship between the communities. The attendees expressed their best wishes for the future prosperity and development of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.