Turkey supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and rejects the illegal annexation of Crimea, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency quotes.
“The return of Crimea to Ukraine, of which it is an integral part, is an important requirement of international law,” Erdogan said in a video message released at the Crimean Platform Summit, an event organized to coordinate the international response to the illegal annexation. peninsula by Moscow in 2014.
“Turkey does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and from the first day openly declares that this step (annexation) is illegitimate and illegal. This is a principled position that has not only legal but also moral foundations,” added Recep Erdogan.
The leader of Ankara also noted that protecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as its political unity, is “critically important” for both regional and global security and stability.
Erdogan demands the release of the Crimean Tatars
He also spoke about the Crimean Tatars, noting that the protection of these “compatriots” is one of the priorities of his government.
Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s demand that Nariman Celal, executive chairman of the Union of Crimean Tatars, and at least 45 other Crimean Tatars who were arrested by Russian authorities last year be released.
“The Crimean Tatars, who have suffered great pain throughout history, are fighting for a peaceful life in their country. Turkey will continue to support the Ukrainian government and the Crimean Tatars in this process,” concluded the Turkish president.
He promised that Ankara would continue its role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine to “ensure peace in the region.”
The Turkish president’s comments followed his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Sochi in early August, after which they announced increased cooperation in the economic and energy spheres.
Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu accused “NATO member countries” of wanting to prolong the war in Ukraine, without specifying which countries.
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Source: Hot News RO
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