Öztürkler in Ankara: “Turkish troops are the guarantee of Turkish Cypriots,” as Kurtulmuş reiterates support

By Bosphorus News Staff

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Parliament Speaker Ziya Öztürkler said in Ankara that Turkish troops are “the guarantee of the Turkish Cypriot people,” rejecting calls for a withdrawal and describing Türkiye’s guarantor role as non negotiable.

Öztürkler spoke on 26 February 2026 at an iftar programme for families of fallen soldiers and veterans hosted by Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Anadolu Agency reported.

“Türkiye’s guarantor status or the presence of Turkish troops is not a matter of debate for the Turkish Cypriot people,” Öztürkler said, adding: “Turkish troops are the guarantee of the Turkish Cypriot people and will always continue to exist in the TRNC.”

In the same remarks, Öztürkler referenced increased armament on the Greek Cypriot side and said messages calling for Turkish troops to leave the island were misplaced in light of the security balance, according to Anadolu Agency’s account.

A separate report by Kıbrıs Genç TV on 27 February 2026 quoted Öztürkler as saying the TRNC is “never alone,” and that there are “unbreakable and unshakable ties” between Türkiye and the TRNC.

Kıbrıs Genç TV also reported Öztürkler relaying a line he attributed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “We may have different political views, but when it comes to Cyprus, all of our surname is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

Earlier on 26 February, Kurtulmuş met Öztürkler at the parliament, with the meeting held behind closed doors. DHA reported that an official TBMM social media statement said the talks covered inter parliamentary relations as well as regional and global issues, and that Kurtulmuş stated Türkiye’s support for the Turkish Cypriot people “continues with determination.”