A HDP delegation comprising HDP MP İbrahim Binici and HDP Istanbul Tuzla district co-chair Bahar Akkuş visited the recently-elected President of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [only recognised by Turkey], Mustafa Akıncı, to congratulate him on his success. 

Akıncı welcomed the HDP delegation and during a 45 minute meeting the Cyprus issue and developments in Turkey were discussed. Akıncı expressed his hopes for peace and wished the HDP good luck in the 7 June elections.

HDP Urfa MP İbrahim Binici said they had received a warm welcome, and that the newly-elected President had accompanied them to the door. "We agreed on fundamental issues”, said Binici, adding that Akıncı had made clear his discomfort with Turkey’s attitude to Northern Cyprus. “We are not the 82nd province of Turkey,” the President told the HDP delegation. Binici said that Akıncı had told them he wished the people of the whole island to make a decision on their future, without a division into North or South.

The HDP delegation will remain in Cyprus until Monday and attend various functions.