The 17th Leaders’ Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) began today in the city of Shusha, Azerbaijan, under the theme
“A New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future.”
President Ersin Tatar is representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which holds observer status within the organization.
The summit, hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, brings together heads of state and government from ECO member and observer countries.
President Tatar attended the official welcoming ceremony and the family photo session before delivering a speech at the summit’s main session.
He is also set to participate in the high-level reception hosted by President Aliyev.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Tatar held a bilateral meeting with ECO Secretary-General Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan.
During the meeting, Tatar expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and the continued interest shown in the TRNC’s legitimate cause.
He emphasized that the TRNC aims to contribute meaningfully to ECO’s mission and called for the participation of the TRNC in all organizational meetings and activities.
He highlighted the country’s growing economy, its strengths in tourism, higher education, construction, and its advanced infrastructure, including ports and airports.
President Tatar also briefed Secretary-General Khan on the Cyprus issue, providing a historical overview and underlining the TRNC’s policy based on sovereign equality and cooperation among Turkic states.
Secretary-General Khan, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the TRNC’s engagement in ECO affairs and noted that the organization is pleased to see the active involvement of the TRNC, especially in areas such as tourism and higher education.
He pointed out that thousands of students from ECO countries are currently pursuing their education in the TRNC and commended both the hospitality of the Turkish Cypriot people and the high quality of education available on the island.
The meeting was attended by TRNC Baku Representative Ambassador Ufuk Turganer, President Tatar’s Special Adviser on International Relations and Diplomacy Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Işıksal, Special Adviser Gökhan Güler, and Presidential Press Officer Kerem Haser.,
President Tatar described his ongoing contacts in Azerbaijan as highly productive and reiterated that these engagements play an important role in strengthening the TRNC’s presence in international platforms and deepening bonds with the Turkic world. brt
