Turkish official condemns Netanyahu’s UN remarks about Erdogan and northern Cyprus

Ankara, Turkey. Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly after Netanyahu called President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “a super-spreader of antisemitic lies” and accused him of illegally occupying northern Cyprus.

Duran responds to Netanyahu

Duran said Netanyahu’s remarks could not obscure what he called massacres and a humanitarian disaster in Gaza or proceedings under international law. He said the international community could see the situation and that Netanyahu was more isolated than ever.

Duran referred to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He said Netanyahu’s use of the UN platform to make what he described as baseless accusations against Turkey and Erdogan was incompatible with the UN’s ideals of peace, law and dialogue.

He said Turkey, under Erdogan’s leadership, would continue to defend the rights of oppressed people, including Palestinians, and advocate a more just world and peace while opposing injustice and oppression.

Netanyahu’s accusations

In his speech, Netanyahu called Erdogan a “tyrant” and accused him of hosting Hamas leaders, killing thousands of Kurdish civilians, denying the Armenian genocide, and jailing journalists and opposition leaders. He said Erdogan might hold a world record for jailing journalists and opposition leaders.

Netanyahu also accused Erdogan of illegally occupying northern Cyprus, which he described as part of an EU member state, regularly transgressing against Greece, a Nato member, and seeking to take over Syria. He said Erdogan called for Israel’s destruction almost every day.

Responding to what he said was Erdogan’s claim that he would rule Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “No, sir, you won’t,” calling it “our country, our city, our capital”.

Cyprus at the General Assembly

Four heads of government referred to the Cyprus problem in speeches at this year’s UN General Assembly. In his address on Tuesday, Erdogan called on the international community to recognise and establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He said the “inhumane isolation” of Turkish Cypriots must end.

Erdogan also referred to Turkey’s maritime disputes with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, saying he wanted issues in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean resolved through good neighbourly relations and in accordance with international law.