The four-hour meeting of the Turkish National Security Council took place on Thursday, chaired by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and focused on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We will not make any compromise or regression on the rights of the Turkish nation on land, sea and air. Turkey urges the countries that act in violation of the international law, to demilitarize the islands and to act with common sense” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated during the Turkish National Security Council.
He added that he is “in favor of a dialogue on the fair distribution of natural resources in the region. Turkey has always stood by justice and equality in all regional and global conflicts and that also applies for its actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. What we ask of the international community and organizations, especially the European Union, is to respect the rights and interests of the Turkish-Cypriots.”
The Turkish president claimed as well that Athens wants to create a Greek lake in the Aegean and said that such a thing will not be accepted.
According to Turkish media, Erdoğan also told his officials that dialogue and a more moderate policy is now a priority.
“Turkey will not relinquish its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. There are UN and EU resolutions. Greece by using the islands as an excuse is trying to create a Greek lake, such a thing cannot be done. We will protect our rights. Our priority is to use all the possibilities of diplomacy. We will pursue a more moderate policy. However, in the Eastern Mediterranean, we will explain that we are right and we will do it on every occasion.”
