Ankara: Trkiye's role as a guarantor for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and its presence in the region are vital for the security of the Turkish Cypriot people, experts told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, the remarks by experts come as TRNC citizens prepare to vote in presidential elections on Sunday. Emete Gozuguzelli, an associate professor at Ankara Social Sciences University, stated that these elections have the potential to mark a "turning point in terms of the national security and sovereign status of the Turkish Cypriots."

Gozuguzelli discussed the region's military and geopolitical developments, as well as Southern Cyprus' increasing military cooperation with Israel. She noted that neither Southern Cyprus, Greece, nor Israel wants the Turkish Cypriots to be sovereign in the region.

This election is pivotal for the future of the Turkish Cypriot people and the continuity of relations with Trkiye, Gozuguzelli emphasized. She remarked, "Trkiye means homeland. Trkiye means a guarantor power in Cyprus."

Gozuguzelli further stated that Trkiye represents a force ensuring peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, making the Cyprus cause a fundamental element of Trkiye's national cause. She underscored Trkiye's crucial role on the island of Cyprus and the significance of the bond between the two countries.