Turkish defense minister warns against Greek and Cypriot ‘unilateral moves’
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler has said that Ankara will not accept what he described as unilateral initiatives by Greece in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, stating that “no project will be carried out that ignores Turkey” or “usurps” its rights.
Guler said Ankara is taking diplomatic and military measures “within the framework of reciprocity” in response to Greek actions that Turkey views as attempts to bypass its interests in the region.
“We are making every effort to protect our rights and interests in our blue and heavenly homeland and are effectively carrying out our activities in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, in accordance with our national interests,” he said.
Cyprus is “arming itself” by developing “military and political relations with countries inside and outside the region,” he said, adding that these moves that “will increase tension and harm stability.”
“We continue to defend the rights and interests of our brothers in Cyprus,” he said, calling for the Turkish-occupied part of northern Cyprus to be recognized internationally as a sovereign state.
Turkey wishes “to resolve the problems that exist between us and our neighbor Greece, to develop the existing positive environment of dialogue, so that the Aegean Sea also becomes an area of peace and stability,” he said.
