ISTANBUL 

The Informal Summit of Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Heads of State, to be held in Azerbaijan’s Shusha city on June 5, can be a “huge step” in recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said Aygun Attar, member of Türkiye’s Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council.

“The Shusha Summit would be a significant step towards recognizing Cyprus,” Attar told Anadolu in an interview.

Stating that TRNC’s prime minister was invited to the anniversary event of the Shusha Declaration, organized by Azerbaijan's ruling party to commemorate the day the declaration was signed, Attar said the establishment of friendship between the parliaments of Azerbaijan and TRNC and the appointment of members are “all significant developments.”

“For the first time, TRNC’s President Ersin Tatar will attend this summit upon the invitation of the Azerbaijani president. We expect that this summit will be rich in messages and substantial in content,” Attar added.

Mentioning that inviting the TRNC as an observer to the OTS is “important,” Attar further said she expects Baku to follow suit and declare recognition of the TRNC as a state, as Ankara has done.

“If time is needed for this process, Azerbaijan will undertake this process in accordance with international law and in a manner that no one can object to. We have seen the determination and capability of Azerbaijan in all steps taken towards Northern Cyprus so far,” she added.

Attar highlighted that the Shusha Declaration has elevated the Ankara-Baku relationship from fraternal to allied, underscoring its profound importance in shaping the current form of OTS.

“The process leading countries to become members or observers of the OTS began with the signing in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan.

“The strategic cooperation and allied relationship between Türkiye and Azerbaijan clearly resonate among other members of the OTS, making it highly significant in this regard,” she added.

Normalization process among Ankara, Baku, Yerevan

Attar said that after the Karabakh victory, Türkiye started a normalization process with Armenia in accordance with international law, but Yerevan has stated it did not reciprocate those steps, due to the “Armenian diaspora.”

“The most crucial aspect of the normalization process is for Armenia to abandon its territorial claims against Türkiye, which would require amending the Armenian constitution to remove the part claiming Mount Ararat (Agri) and any related territorial claims.

“Concrete steps from Armenia in this regard are awaited by Türkiye,” she added.

Ankara has taken every step necessary “up to now,” she noted, urging the Yerevan government to take steps toward a normalization process with Ankara.

Underlining Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s acknowledgment of Azerbaijan’s negotiation stance in his speech at the Armenian parliament, Attar added: “Just like Türkiye’s relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan's relations with Armenia also demand the complete elimination of any territorial claims against both Azerbaijan and Türkiye.”