Turkish Cyprus prepares to open Gazimagusa Port to OTS member ships

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is preparing to open Gazimagusa Port for ships from member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

TRNC Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arikli said that as an observer member of the OTS, they applied a year ago to include Gazimagusa Port in the “OTS Sister Ports” program.

The application of the TRNC was re-discussed at the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of OTS held in Azerbaijan’s Shusha city on June 5, he added.

Arikli noted there are a total of eight ports in the “OTS Sister Ports” program, including two from Türkiye, and they are striving for Gazimagusa Port to be the ninth port in the program.

Arikli pointed out the increasing share of sea transportation in world trade volume every year, saying the inclusion of Gazimagusa Port in the program would be beneficial for both the TRNC and other OTS members.

Arikli hopes Türkiye will support their application.

The development of political, cultural and commercial relations among OTS members would contribute to global stability both regionally and globally, stressed Arikli, adding: “We want Gazimagusa Port, the most fortified place in the Eastern Mediterranean, to be a base for Turkic states.”

“Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, who want to participate in world trade, should be able to use Gazimagusa Port as if it were their own port.”

“We want to benefit from the increasing maritime trade worldwide and also want this situation to benefit our country politically,” he added.