Erdogan calls for end to ‘isolation’ of Turkish Cypriots

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged for an end to the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot breakaway entity in the Turkish-occupied part of northern Cyprus.

Addressing the 10th summit of heads of state of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in the Kazakh capital Astana on Friday, Erdogan said that, "We must stand together against the unjust and inhumane isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup aiming to unify the eastern Mediterranean island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island nation's northern third.