Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu reacts to the burning of the Turkish and TRNC flags

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu reacted strongly to the burning of the flags of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during Easter celebrations in the Greek administration of South Cyprus (GCA) and issued a statement.

The statement by Minister Ertuğruloğlu reads as follows:

“It has been reported in the press that, during Easter celebrations under the Greek Cypriot administration—which is dominated by the EOKA mentality— the flags of Türkiye and the TRNC, as well as a portrait of former Turkish Minister of National Defense, Hulusi Akar were burned. I strongly condemn this fascist act. Any attack on our flags is considered as a direct act against the nation, and can never be tolerated. On the anniversary of the armed actions launched by EOKA, the terrorist organization responsible for massacres against Turkish Cypriots, the Greek Cypriot leader, who has linked a solution in Cyprus to the withdrawal of Türkiye and Turkish troops from the island, once again spoke of the struggle against the so-called occupation in Cyprus. This distorted mindset encourages actions that exceed the limits of tolerance. This mob, which harbours hatred and animosity towards the Turkish people, has clearly learned nothing from history. We will never tolerate such acts of provocation, and no attack on our sacred values will go unanswered. Any insolent hand that reaches out to the Turkish flag will face the united will of our nation. The Turkish Cypriot people remain determined to defend what is sacred to them, as they have always done, and they are fully capable of doing so.”