Presidents attend prayers on first day of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday

TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan performed Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) morning prayers with President Ersin Tatar (pictured) at the Hala Sultan Mosque in Haspolat on Tuesday, the first day of the four-day religious holiday.

According to a press statement from Mr Erdoğan’s office, he spoke to reporters outside the mosque following the prayers, wishing Eid Mubarak to reporters and the Islamic World and expressing his desire for the holiday to bring peace to all humanity.

Speaking about his visit to the TRNC, Mr Erdoğan said: “We are here today for a unique reason. . . We will be marking the 47th anniversary of the independence struggle of Northern Cyprus. We are having the opportunity of celebrating two festivals simultaneously.”

President Tatar, when asked about the possibility of Azerbaijan recognising the TRNC, said: “What lies in their hearts is to boost the relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The fact that deputies from such an important delegation are with us on such an important day of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, that is both the Eid al-Adha and the

Peace and Freedom Day, the 47th anniversary, is actually an important message to the world. Our relations will further improve in time.”

Stating that thousands of Azerbaijanis live in the TRNC, President Tatar added: “We have significant and long-standing ties. As I have told them, we originate from the same nation and therefore the issue, in my opinion, is headed for ‘one nation, three states’.”