Recognition of Northern Cyprus 'best option' for lasting peace: Turkish President Erdogan

By Diyar Guldogan

Recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the "best option" for all the countries that seek a lasting peace on the Cyprus island, the Turkish president said.

"Recognition of the TRNC is the best option for all countries that want to ensure a permanent peace and tranquility on the island of Cyprus.

"The realities of the island are obvious and the TRNC is the most concrete reality of Cyprus," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters late Monday on the presidential plane returning from a visit to Azerbaijan's autonomous Nakhchivan exclave.

Erdogan said it has become clear that there is no option other than a two-state solution to the Cyprus issue.

"No one should expect us to ignore the rights of the TRNC or let them be violated. We will raise our voice more for the TRNC to be recognized by other countries.

"... The island of Cyprus deserves to be remembered with peace and tranquility, not tensions," he added.

Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

Türkiye fully supports a two-state solution on the island based on sovereign equality and equal international status between its two states.