UBP MP Ahmet Savaşan explained the ECO Health Tourism Conference held in Iran and the evacuation process that followed. In the process that started with the closure of the Iranian airspace after Israel's airstrikes, Turkey's Tehran Embassy stepped in and the delegation was safely transported across the border to the TRNC by Turkish Airlines. “This process is an indication of the unshakable trust between the two states,” Savaşan said.
National Unity Party (UBP) MP and President of the Cyprus Health Tourism Council Dr. Ahmet Savaşan, In his television program, he shared with the public the 3rd Health Tourism Conference of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Hemedan, Iran, and the evacuation process after the Israeli attacks.
KKTC ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE WITH AN OFFICIAL INVITATION
Prof. Dr. Savaşan stated that a delegation of two people representing the TRNC participated in the ECO 3rd Health Tourism Conference and Fair held in Hemedan, Iran between 11-13 June 2025. He emphasized that the TRNC took part in the conference as an official invitee with the status of an observer member country.
Savaşan said the conference hosted by Iran was attended by high-level representatives from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Topics such as regional cooperation in health tourism, facilitating patient transfers, digitalization, artificial intelligence-supported health solutions and the place of traditional medicine in modern systems were discussed at the conference.
EIT PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH TOURISM TO BE ESTABLISHED
With the “Hemedan Declaration” adopted at the end of the meeting, decisions were taken such as the establishment of the ECO Standing Committee on Health Tourism, the creation of a digital health tourism platform and strengthening cooperation in the field of education.
“WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF IRANIAN AIRSPACE FROM THE PRESS”
Following the conference, the TRNC delegation arrived at the airport at 04.00 on Friday morning, June 13, from Hemedan to Tehran, a four-hour journey, and departed for Istanbul with Pegasus Airlines. Stating that the procedures were stopped when they were about to proceed to passport control after check-in procedures and luggage delivery, Savaşan said that they learned from the press that the Iranian airspace was closed due to Israeli air strikes.
TURKEY'S EMBASSY IN TEHRAN STEPPED IN
Stating that they contacted the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Tehran after this development, Savaşan said that the embassy officials quickly took the delegation from the airport and brought them to the embassy, where they spent the night. Savaşan also stated that many bombs were thrown at points close to the embassy during the night.
12 HOURS OF DIFFICULT EVACUATION
Emphasizing that the Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kırlangıç and the embassy staff meticulously implemented the security measures, Savaşan said that on Saturday morning, June 14, they set off in a convoy of two vehicles on the highway towards Yüksekova district of Turkey. He said that they passed through more than ten security points and saw many settlements bombed during the difficult journey that lasted about 12 hours.
Savaşan stated that at the end of the journey, they reached the Consulate General of Turkey in Urumiyeh, where they were welcomed by Consul General Cüneyt Akbal and his team, and that the delegation was then safely evacuated to Turkey through the Esendere Border Gate, accompanied by armored vehicles and security forces, equipped with steel vests.
RETURN TO KKTC WITH THY
Stating that they were transported to police facilities in Yüksekova accompanied by gendarmerie and hosted there, Savaşan said that they returned to TRNC on Sunday, June 15 at 19.00 with the organization of Turkish Airlines.
“THE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WAS EXEMPLARY”
During the process, the President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Unal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoglu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu’s direct involvement and is in constant consultation with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş and other officials.
Emphasizing that the ties between the TRNC and Turkey are not only diplomatic, but also represent a strong solidarity based on brotherhood that saves lives in difficult times, Savaşan stated that this process has once again demonstrated that the understanding of “One nation, two states” is real not only in discourse but also in action.
Dr. Ahmet Savaşan, He thanked the Turkish and TRNC authorities, his family, friends, ministers, MPs and all his loved ones for their support from the beginning of the process.
