Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) Member, Mayor of Esik Municipality of Almaty province of Kazakhstan Marat Koszhanov and his delegation visited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and held meetings.
On 10 December 2024, within the framework of the visit, Mayor of Esik Municipality of Kazakhstan Marat Koszhanov and the accompanying delegation met with the President of the TRNC Republican Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, Union of Turkish Cypriot Municipalities (KTBB) and Güzelyurt Mayor Mahmut Özçınar, Tatlısu Mayor Hayri Orçan and Resmiye Eroğlu Canaltay, member of the friendship group with the Parliament of Kazakhstan.
KTBB President Mahmut Özçınar expressed his pleasure to host the delegation and emphasised the importance of establishing relations in terms of sister municipalities. Özçınar informed the delegation that the Union of Turkish Cypriot Municipalities has representation in the Council of Europe, Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) and United Cities and Local Governments, Middle East and West Asia Regional Organisation (UCLG-MEWA) and gave information about its activities. Özçınar reminded the cooperation protocol signed between Union of Turkish Cypriot Municipalities and Union of City Municipalities of Azerbaijan under the coordination of TDBB in September and emphasised that the Turkish World needs unity in order to be stronger. Özçınar said that there is a chance to work with Kazakhstan for the development of relations. Marat Koszhanov, Mayor of Esik Municipality of Kazakhstan, expressed that they were very pleased to be in the TRNC and thanked for the hospitality.
During the visit, Tatlısu Mayor Hayri Orçan stated that the Kazakh delegation was in the TRNC within the framework of the cooperation and brotherhood protocol between the two municipalities.
Resmiye Eroğlu Canaltay, a member of the friendship group with the Parliament of Kazakhstan, said: ‘I am extremely happy to see our Kazakh brothers and sisters, who are part of the Turkish nation, here. This situation gives us strength. I would like to express our satisfaction with your presence here’.
Ziya Öztürkler, President of the Assembly of the Republic, said, ‘It is important for us that you are sister municipalities and cooperate with such a region and president. 41 years ago, we are in this building where the republic was declared. This building is very important for us. In order for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to look to the future with more confidence, it is necessary to work, establish co-operation and open up to the world.’
