Yılmaz: “We have never abandoned the Turkish Cypriots”

Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz said, “We have never abandoned the Turkish Cypriots, and we will we will continue to stand by them. As the motherland and guarantor, we are taking the necessary steps inlight of developments in our region.”

Yılmaz responded to journalists’ questions ahead of the parliamentary group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Recalling the attacks carried out by the United States of America and Israel against Iran and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, when asked about the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Yılmaz stated that, significant military build-up had taken place on the Greek Cypriot side in recent period.

Yılmaz emphasized that this situation had effectively turned the island into a potentai target for attack, adding the following:

“We have observed some concrete repercussions of the steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side in the recent period, putting the entire island at risk. With the 1974 Peace Operation, we ensured security not only for the Turkish Cypriots but for the entire island. For more than 50 years, both Turkish and Greek Cypriots have been developing, progressing and strengthening their democracies in a secure and peaceful environment. The Turkish Armed Forces and the Peace Operation made this possible. We do not want this to be disrupted.

We seek a much more peaceful future for both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides, based firmly on sovereign equality. We have never abandoned the Turkish Cypriots, and we will not abandon them in the future.

As the motherland and guarantor, we are taking the necessary steps in light of developments in our region. We will continue to do whatever is necessary going forward. Every step we take is aimed at ensuring the security of everyone on the island and safeguarding the stability of the entire island.”