How Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry got Somalia to correct its slip

Politics Cyprus problemnorth cyprusTop News How Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry got Somalia to correct its slip υπεξ σομαλ 1536x798 Relevant News How Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry got Somalia to correct its slip 22 August 2026 Paphos domestic violence suspect probed over illegal CCTV, weapons claims 22 August 2026 Police fear new wave of violence after Ayia Napa attempted murder 22 August 2026 Andreas Bimbishis 22 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry acted to head off diplomatic fallout after the new speaker of Somalia’s parliament referred to the Turkish Cypriot administration’s assembly speaker as head of the “TRNC” parliament. The slip prompted Somalia to issue a statement reaffirming its position on Cyprus. Turkey holds near-total influence over Somalia at every level. The Turkish Cypriot administration has tried to use this to win greater political recognition, but Nicosia has moved effectively to counter such attempts through immediate mobilisation of the Foreign Ministry. Cyprus was one of only a few EU states to back Somalia’s own territorial integrity in the dispute over Somaliland, a principled stance that appears to have positively influenced Somalia’s corrective statement. The issue arose when Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, speaker of Somalia’s Federal Parliament, referred to Zia Ozturkler, “speaker” of the Turkish Cypriot administration’s assembly, as “speaker of the parliament of the TRNC.” Nur, a fluent Turkish speaker, made the comment in a post on X thanking Ozturkler for a congratulatory message on his own election as speaker of Somalia’s parliament. Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry mobilised immediately to clarify the matter with the Somali side before it could escalate, an effort that produced results, according to the ministry. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis welcomed the announcement issued by Somalia’s Federal Republic. He said adherence to international law, the UN Charter and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states was a constant principle of Cyprus’s foreign policy. Cyprus applies that principle consistently, he said, and expects it applied with the same consistency towards Cyprus itself. He added that the ministry continues its diplomatic efforts “with determination and method” to defend the Republic’s interests, international standing and sovereign rights. In its own statement, Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said Nur’s post reflected personal correspondence, not a change in Somali foreign policy, and should not be interpreted as one. It said the post did “not constitute recognition of any separate entity in the northern part of Cyprus,” and that no decision had been taken by the federal government to alter Somalia’s established position. The announcement said Somalia’s position on the Cyprus problem remains unchanged and continues to be guided by the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), and reaffirmed support for a peaceful, negotiated and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem under UN auspices. Somalia remains committed to the principles of the UN Charter and to the peaceful resolution of disputes. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Paphos domestic violence suspect probed over illegal CCTV, weapons claims Police fear new wave of violence after Ayia Napa attempted murder Cyprus in Brussels: six MEPs, six different paths 27 cancer treatments show promise as science gets precise Cyprus weather: mostly clear with highs of 39C inland on Saturday A new era in the labour market: Transparency, equality and investment in skills Turkey issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla raid Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.