PM Üstel highlights economic vision and Türkiye ties in Ankara
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stated that the 2026 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement signed with Türkiye represents a comprehensive development vision aimed at strengthening the economy, increasing production, and planning for the future.
Speaking at the joint press conference following the signing ceremony in Ankara, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said the agreement includes structural reforms to enhance institutional capacity and make public administration more effective.
He noted that while the agreement was signed at approximately 23 billion Turkish Liras, additional contributions throughout the year are expected to raise the total available resources to around 25 billion TL.
Üstel emphasized that the historic-scale agreement will enable the provision of long-term, low-interest loans across key sectors including tourism, construction, industry, SMEs, tradespeople, and agriculture.
He underlined that the ultimate goal is to build a stronger economy, a more prosperous society, and a more secure future.
Thanking Türkiye for its continued support, Üstel described relations between the two countries as a deep-rooted brotherhood built on shared history, destiny, and trust.
Highlighting regional tensions, he pointed to increasing security risks in the Eastern Mediterranean and warned that policies by the Greek Cypriot side have effectively turned the island into a part of broader conflicts.
Üstel stressed that the presence of Türkiye on the island remains the main guarantee of peace and security for Turkish Cypriots, stating that Türkiye is not only a financial supporter but also the strongest guarantor of their existence, security, and stability.
Reaffirming alignment with Türkiye on the Cyprus issue, Üstel said a lasting solution can only be achieved through the recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status, adding that “the solution is clear: a two-state solution.”
He also described as a historic milestone his participation in the Organization of Turkic States meeting in Baku, noting that for the first time, a TRNC Prime Minister represented the state with its own flag and institutional identity at an international platform outside Türkiye.
Üstel reiterated that the TRNC is an integral part of the Turkic world and the global system, and stressed the importance of strengthening internal capacity, increasing investments, advancing technology, and ensuring sustainable growth in the real sector.
He added that with the allocated resources, projects directly impacting the public will be completed in 2026, including hospitals, roads, and schools, describing the year as one of completion and delivery following groundwork laid in 2024 and 2025.
Concluding his remarks, Üstel said the government remains focused on implementation and long-term planning, emphasizing that the steps taken today will translate into significant gains for the public in the future, with Türkiye’s support continuing throughout the process.
