Kalın: “We have not allowed the creation of actual situations that violate our rights so far”
25 December, 2018Martyr Hüseyin Ruso Laid to Rest
26 December, 2018Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay reacted strongly to Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s statements that ‘Turkey has occupied North Cyprus’.
In his statement to Demirören News Agency (DHA), Özersay said that Turkey is not an occupant, it is the most important country which has provided stability both in the island and in the region since 1974. It is also the guarantee of peace continuing for 44 years in Cyprus.
Özersay added “Turkey’s existence in Cyprus is based on the Guarantee Agreement. If Israel is trying to find an occupant, there is no need to go far and distort the facts”.
“Which agreement or legal argument do they base their existence on, in Palestine’s territory? The firewall which they built is accepted by the International Court of Justice as illegal and also as a step which violates human rights. If the Security Council has not condemned their occupation which has continued up to today, it is because of their US support and veto. I want to stress that Turkey did the necessary intervention as a guarantor country in accordance with the agreements” Özersay stressed.
Özersay emphasized that a similar understanding of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” would only give harm in this century.
Özersay continued: “It has been said that Israel’s alliance with the Greek Cypriot side is not against anybody however their recent statements and attitude reveal that the cooperation initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean is exclusivist and marginalized. I hope Israel does not fall in line with the Greek Cypriot side’s policies against Turkey otherwise the stability of the region will be in danger” Özersay said.
“Criticizing Israel’s relations with the Greek Cypriot side, he said “this togetherness which was shaped against Turkey and the TRNC is becoming clearer with the latest statements and it has been seen that it is not a peace initiative. I recommend everyone who gives importance to regional peace to think not once but a few times” Özersay added.