Erhürman at the Ankara summit: Northern Cyprus proposes university, sports and culture projects to the Turkic world

Tufan Erhürman, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, spoke at the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara on 30 October. Northern Cyprus became an observer at the 2022 Samarkand summit, and Erhürman stood among the observer countries in the family photo.

He asked for the idea of solidarity to be turned into more concrete cooperation. His proposals: joint research programmes between universities, academic and cultural exchanges that bring young people together, closer ties in sport, exhibitions, concerts, opera and performing arts, and meetings of entrepreneurs and researchers on trade, investment, digital transformation and innovation.

Erhürman described Northern Cyprus as an economic, scientific and cultural bridge between the Turkic world and the Eastern Mediterranean, pointing to its higher education, young workforce, tourism and location. He added that the Turkish Cypriots will keep working with Türkiye, in close consultation, towards a fair and lasting settlement on the island.

After the summit Erdoğan welcomed Erhürman at the entrance of the Presidential Complex and the two held a closed-door bilateral meeting. Its content was not disclosed; the Turkish presidency only confirmed that it took place.