NICOSIA, December 18. /TASS/. Ersin Tatar, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider establishing direct diplomatic relations between Russia and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

“We would like our relations with Russia to develop and expand, so I express my gratitude to all Russians, and I also ask Russian authorities and President Putin personally to consider the issue of relations with Northern Cyprus,” Tatar, who holds the office of the President of Northern Cyprus, told TASS.

Northern Cyprus is not recognized by any state except for Turkey.

“I would like to ask the Russian leadership and the Russian people to reconsider its policy towards Cyprus, especially after what happened in Ukraine and considering what is going on in the world with the multitude of global changes,” the Turkish Cypriot leader added.

According to Tatar, Moscow having direct relations with Northern Cyprus “would also benefit Turkey, who seeks to develop relations with all countries, including Russia.”

“Russia acts in Ukraine because it did not feel safe with the events that took place in Ukraine. The same is true for Turkey. I am convinced that the Russians must appreciate what Turkey would like — self-determination for the Turkish Cypriots in their own state in the northern part of the island, with sovereign rights, but with cooperation with the Greek part,” Tatar concluded.