The Turkish president further escalated his provocative rhetoric, speaking at a meeting of his party's parliamentary group and referring to several issues, including Hagia Sophia, bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey and Finland-Sweden's NATO membership.
Erdogan: No more dialogue with Greece until it corrects its mistakes
In a new crescendo of provocativeness, and reinforcing his stance in recent days and especially after Mitsotakis' visit to the US, Tayyip Erdogan in his speech referred to Greece-Turkey bilateral relations, blaming the Greek leadership for recent developments. In particular, the Turkish president reiterated that Turkish officials will no longer hold bilateral talks with Greece and called on the Greek leadership to "be honest" regarding its relations with Turkey.
Erdogan noted that Turkey will not hold bilateral talks with Greece until Athens "corrects its mistakes" and also added that Ankara cancelled the agreement on the High Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey.
"Did Greece allow the installation of US bases? It did. We had an agreement with Greece, I told my foreign minister yesterday. We terminated the High Cooperation Council Agreement with Greece. We are for a foreign policy with dignity. You stand up and show us your planes every now and then. What are you doing? Come on. Aren't you learning lessons from history? And then you start crying and whining. Don't try to dance with Turkey. You will get tired and stay on the street. We no longer have bilateral talks with them. Unfortunately this Greece will not get on the right track. It is the Greek Cypriot lobby in the US and they are talking against us in Congress. We are tired of them now. If you will be honest, your position is ready in front of us, if not, sorry," Erdogan said.
Erdogan: We closed a wound, restored Hagia Sophia to its original identity
In addition, Tayyip Erdogan claimed that Turkey has restored the Hagia Sophia, that it has restored its identity 84 years later, "closing a wound."
"History bears witness to our great struggle to establish peace, trust, tolerance and prosperity wherever we conquered. Today, with the inspiration we received from our ancestors, we strive to make our homeland and every place where we fly our flag a home of peace," Erdogan said.
He continued in the same defiant tone. Thank God, we have closed the wound that opened in the heart of the conquest, restoring Hagia Sophia to its original identity 84 years later. Hagia Sophia has once again taken its place in our culture as a banner raised in the heart of Istanbul."
Recall that on Monday, following a post by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on the occasion of the Day of the Fall of Constantinople, the Turkish Defense Ministry in successive posts attacked Athens, even accusing it of expansionism.
Erdogan says he has not received satisfactory guarantees from Finland-Sweden for NATO membership
Referring to Turkey's ongoing veto of Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, Erdogan said his country has not received clear proposals that satisfy his concerns over security issues. "How can Turkey approve Sweden's and Finland's requests for NATO membership when terrorist collaborators are running free and holding demonstrations there?" the Turkish president said.
Addressing his Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group, Erdogan noted that Turkey wants to see a "sincere" approach from the two Scandinavian countries regarding its concerns, adding that Ankara will not change its mind unless it sees concrete and binding steps being taken.
The Turkish president also noted that Turkey's opposition to the Stockholm and Helsinki accession efforts is not "opportunism" but rather a matter of national security.
Erdogan announced the start of new military operations in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said that "Turkey will rid Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij regions of terrorists" and that its planned military operations will gradually be carried out in other parts of northern Syria.
Source: iefimerida.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
