Pointing out that the USA has taken steps in favor of Greece by disrupting its neutrality policy and lifted the arms embargo against southern Cyprus for a year, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, “We must protect our own interests and security both in the Aegean and in Cyprus and we will resolutely take the necessary steps to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, made statements at the press conference held at the AK Party Denizli Provincial Presidency.
Çavuşoğlu stated that there are many problems around Turkey and that they will continue to protect the interests of the Turkish nation and Turkey.
Explaining that they are doing their best to minimize the effects of environmental problems, Çavuşoğlu said, “Unfortunately, the international system is unable to contribute to the solution of world problems today.
Our President also said, ‘The world is bigger than five.’ saying, ‘A fairer world is possible.’ “He is trying to explain and emphasize this. Therefore, in a period when the international system is weak, there are actors that come to the fore in solving problems. Turkey is at the forefront of them,” he said.
Stating that they will visit Libya on Monday, October 3, Çavuşoğlu said, “An intense foreign policy awaits us in the upcoming period. We need to be active all over the world.
There are very important summits and meetings that we need to attend, we will attend them. Here, we will see Turkey’s thoughts, determinations, I hope we will have the opportunity to share their advice,” he said.
Reminding that Greece violated the status of the demilitarized islands in violation of international law, Çavuşoğlu continued as follows:
“Our hands will not be tied, we will also take the necessary measures. On the other hand, the USA, as you know, has been taking steps in favor of Greece recently by breaking its neutrality policy, and has been following a policy of balance in the past. It also lifted the arms embargo against the Greek Cypriot Administration for a year.
Therefore, as the guarantor country, we will hopefully make the necessary reinforcements to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We will take the necessary steps to protect and establish our own interests and security, and to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots, both in the Aegean and Cyprus. “
Stating that they are making efforts to keep foreign policy out of the vicious internal conflicts, Minister Çavuşoğlu continued as follows:
“Our President also desires and instructs like this, but despite all this, of course, is there an opposition that tries to make Turkey wrong even in our most just cause, no matter what you do. We see it in the parliamentary debates.
“Only Turkey continues to have an unjust understanding, but this is a wrong understanding. When this happens, of course, we have to give the necessary answers. We are obliged to protect the national interests of our country not only outside, but also against those who act against our national interests,” we will continue our efforts.
Since foreign policy is a national policy, every sector should support it. Of course, if there is a deficiency, it will be criticized, if there is a mistake, it will be warned, these will happen. We see this as natural, but we do not accept the understanding that other countries are right and Turkey is wrong no matter what.”
Pointing out that from time to time, some of his interlocutors make different statements regarding their face-to-face meetings, Çavuşoğlu said:
“Some of our interlocutors make necessary and unnecessary statements in front of the press, especially in order to give a message to their domestic politics, that is, to the union they belong. Let’s talk about the European Union, to say ‘I went to Turkey, I said that, I said that too’.
Of course, we respect everyone’s opinion, but as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, we need to respond to these as well, and while we are giving this answer, of course, we give our answers in a certain style while remaining within the scope of diplomacy, but these are some friends, I mean, they are also the last German in private meetings.
The meeting we had alone with the minister in Istanbul was not a good one because he was in an approach that dared to question the sovereignty of Turkey, which fully defended the Greek theses. We also taught the necessary lesson. At the press conference, we showed our righteousness in a certain style.”
Stating that they tried to serve under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and that they followed a multi-actor foreign policy in this process, Çavuşoğlu said, “This is not just Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s policy, I am a part of this team here. History will best evaluate what we will do from now on.”
Minister Çavuşoğlu drew attention to the fact that immigration is one of the main problems of the world and said:
“It is necessary to develop policies by paying close attention to all aspects of this problem by not looking at this problem with a racist approach, but only from a security perspective, considering the human being as a social phenomenon, just like we do.
The return of more than 520,000 Syrians to Syria so far, the return of Syria in Turkey has been in the same context, and the basic services they need to be provided when they return there are also provided in the same way.
Those coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa share these figures, but while we are a country that as set an example in the world with our humanitarian approach, for example, Greece’s killing people in the middle of the sea with the help of Frontex under the supervision of the European Union. It is truly shameful that immigrants are subjected to so much abuse in many parts of the world.”
Çavuşoğlu stated that they had previously announced that they would not recognize the referendum held in some regions in Ukraine, and emphasized that as Turkey, they followed a principled foreign policy and their balanced policies set an example for the whole world.
Upon a question from a press member, Çavuşoğlu said, “We had the opportunity to turn a new page in the new government, the new President, in relations with Israel. We have seen the benefits of this dialogue.
We have started to see the benefits of this direct contact, both in bilateral relations and regional issues, but especially in the Palestinian issue.”
Noting that the Palestinians conveyed their messages to the Israelis during their meetings, Çavuşoğlu concluded his words as follows:
“We have been saying from the very beginning that we will never normalize these relations at the expense of the Palestinian cause. Our President, in the meetings he had with Prime Minister Lapid in New York, clearly stated all his shortcomings and mistakes, it was a sincere meeting.