Turkish officials renewed calls for international recognition of the breakaway entity in the north, hours before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The calls were echoed across social media by senior figures as attention turned to Erdogan's expected remarks at the UN.
Oktay posts recognition message
Former Turkish vice president and current chairman of the Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Fuat Oktay, posted an image on X showing Erdogan alongside the flag of the breakaway entity and the message: "We call on the international community to recognise the independence of the TRNC."
Oktay accompanied the post with the slogan "Erdogan, the Voice of Justice" and the hashtag #ErdoganTheVoiceOfJustice, which was widely used on Turkish social media ahead of the president's speech and was among the day's trending topics in Turkey.
Focus on Cyprus, Gaza and regional developments
The renewed call for recognition comes as Erdogan prepares to address the UN General Assembly for the 16th time.
Turkish media reports said the Turkish president is expected to refer again to the Cyprus issue during his speech, while much of his address is expected to focus on Gaza, the Palestinian issue and broader regional developments.
Ankara has repeatedly advocated international recognition of the Turkish Cypriot breakaway entity as part of its long-standing support for a two-state solution on the island.
Adaletin Sesi Erdoğan #ErdoganTheVoiceOfJustice https://t.co/jkOhOwitq5
— Fuat Oktay (@fuatoktay) September 22, 2026
