Reaction from Turkey to the UN Security Council resolution on the extension of the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
29 July, 2019Tatar: “Dreams and wrong policies of Greek politicians regarding Cyprus will not change”
31 July, 2019Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay responded to statements made by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mytsotakis during his visit in South Cyprus. Özersay remarked “If Mytsotakis is looking for an invasion, he should look at the Greek invasion of the Republic of Cyprus”. He further pointed out that the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece, who persisted in missing every opportunity for a solution in Cyprus, do not have a say in the issue of the closed Maraş.
Özersay regarded the Greek Prime Minister Mytsotakis’ statement regarding Greece’s primary foreign policy goal of terminating the so-called Turkish invasion of Cyprus as outdated and archaic. Recalling that the existence of Turkish soldiers is a result of Greece’s coup d’état attempt in Cyprus, Özersay also said it should never be forgotten that the Turkish soldiers are in the island as a result of a military intervention aimed to terminate an invasion caused by the violation of the constitution and the treaty.
Indicating that the existence of the Turkish soldiers in Cyprus aims to terminate Greece’s invasion of Cyprus Özersay said, “If Mytsotakis is looking for an invasion then he should look at the Greek invasion of what he mentions as “Republic of Cyprus”.
Özersay further stated:
If the Greek Prime Minister is looking for an illegal act or an activity in the Eastern Mediterranean region, primarily they should look at the Greek Cypriots’ unilateral activities which violates the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, then they will see what the illegal activities are.
Özersay also made statements regarding the closed Maraş. Stating that if Greeks had used the opportunities presented up to now, there would not have been the issue of the closed Maraş today. Özersay continued: “If they could have compromised regarding the closed Maraş, we would have set a nice example with respect to the future of Cyprus. Given that we could not achieve any of this, I am of the opinion that they do not have a say in the issue of the Closed Maraş. It is true that the Greek Cypriots, the former residents of the Closed Maraş, are stakeholders. Under these circumstances however neither the Greek Cypriot Administration nor Greece are our stakeholders or interlocutors in this respect.