Azerbaijan delegation takes part in celebrations
A DELEGATION from the Foreign Affairs and InterParliamentary Relations Committee of Azerbaijan Parliament visited the TRNC for the first time, to take part in the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day celebrations.
They met with President Ersin Tatar, Parliamentary Speaker Önder Sennaroğlu and Prime Minister Ersan Saner.
Expressing that he welcomes Turkey’s closeness with Azerbaijan, Mr Tatar said. “We are one nation, three states. We are all of Turkish descent.”
Referring to the importance of national unity and acting in unison, Mr Tatar emphasised that the development of cultural and political ties with Azerbaijan should not be hindered.
Mr Sennaroğlu said: “The Azerbaijani delegation being with us on the 47th anniversary of the Turkish Cypriots attaining freedom and wellbeing is a strong message to the international community.”
Noting that Azerbaijan contributed to the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots alongside Turkey, especially in the
Council of Europe, Mr Saner said: “I sincerely thank you for being with us and supporting us in our national cause.”
The Azerbaijani committee chairman Samed Seyidov said that “brothers should stand with each other” and that “Turks should stand with Turks and the world should see this”.
Mr Seyidov expressed his “deep appreciation and gratitude” to President Tatar for meeting with the delegation and hoped that their relationship will “grow and continue”.
“Turkey’s strength is the strength of Azerbaijan and the TRNC,” he added.
Government, opposition and independent MPs from Azerbaijan were part of the delegation that came to the TRNC, with Mr Seyidov emphasising that there is no difference between the government and the opposition in Azerbaijan regarding the Cyprus issue.
Meanwhile TRNC tourism chiefs held an online meeting with the Azerbaijan Tourism and Travel Agencies Union president Rufat Hajiyev, deputy Shahin Gurbanov,
union members and tour operators.
The discussion aimed to “revive and improve tourism relations between the two countries, which has been following a stagnate course since 2011” a statement from
the TRNC’s Tourism and Environment Ministry said.
Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu addressed the Azerbaijani participants and expressed his “satisfaction” with the meeting.