Ankara, Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told families of fallen soldiers and veterans that Turkish forces “stopped the bloodshed” in Cyprus, placing the island at the centre of a broad historical narrative. He made the remarks at an iftar dinner in Ankara on Friday.
Speech to soldiers’ families and veterans
Erdogan delivered the comments primarily to an audience of soldiers’ families and veterans, describing the 1974 invasion as part of what he called “an unbroken struggle to defend the homeland.” He also referred to a series of Turkish military events across centuries, including the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the Gallipoli campaign in 1917, the Greco-Turkish war of 1922, and the failed coup attempt of 2016.
Comments on sovereignty and security
Erdogan said that despite crusades, invasions and attempts at occupation, “no matter what they did, they could not uproot us from these lands,” and said Turkey has not retreated from defending its sovereignty. He added that Ankara is “absolutely aware of the games being played, the traps being set and those acting covertly.”
Anti-terrorism initiative and defence industry
He highlighted the government’s anti-terrorism initiative, saying that 16 months after its launch “remarkable progress” has been achieved and that the relevant parliamentary committee has completed its work. He linked this to Turkey’s continued actions “within and beyond its borders” and cited advances in the defence industry, including unmanned aerial vehicles, missile systems and naval assets.
Regional diplomacy and Cyprus talks
Earlier this month, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Erdogan there was a “window of opportunity” for progress on the Cyprus issue, referring to initiatives by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres aimed at restarting talks that stalled in 2017. Erdogan did not comment directly on Cyprus at that meeting, but said he and Mitsotakis discussed the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, adding that disputes were not insurmountable “under international law” if approached in good faith.
What impact will these remarks have on efforts to restart Cyprus talks?