In the new, complex field of international relations, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey presents itself as a "subtle neutral" and "remains out of the picture by playing on two boards again," Interior Minister Nikos Nouris said on Sunday.
He said that President Anastasiades, at the Brussels summit, "deplored" Turkey's unacceptable attitude of choosing not to align with sanctions against Russia and recalled that Turkey serves only its own interests and significantly affects the effectiveness of measures aimed at exerting pressure to end the destructive war against the Ukrainian people.
In a commemorative speech at the memorial service of the hero of the U.O.K.A. Stylianou Lena, in Chandria, Mr. Nouris also said that the images of the war in Ukraine inevitably awakened memories of the 1974 Turkish invasion, adding that Cyprus as a country under occupation, which for almost 48 years continues to experience the consequences of the Turkish invasion, fully understands the wounds and pain of the Ukrainian people.
The Interior Minister went on to say that the Government, the whole of Cyprus and our people cannot but show practical solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people and call for an immediate end to the ceasefire "in order to put an end to the tragic loss of innocent lives and the violation of the principles of international law so brutally violated by Putin and the Russian military".
He also said that the Ukrainians were fighting for the very same cause that our own heroes fought for in 1955-59, opposing the then mighty British Empire.
He also pointed out that in the new, complex and difficult field of international relations and new geopolitical realities, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey is presented as a "pretentious neutral" and "Pontius Pilate", remaining on the sidelines, playing again on two boards both as an EU candidate country and as a NATO member, chooses not to participate in the sanctions imposed by the West on the Russian invader in Ukraine, even suggesting ways to circumvent them, while trying to take advantage of the West's break with Russia, turning the Ukrainian crisis into an opportunity.
"Erdogan is following the same formula that Turkish President Ismet Inonu followed in World War II, when he chose the winner's camp only when Hitler was pinned down and neutralized," he said.
On the Cyprus issue, the Interior Minister said that the passage of time is having a negative effect on the future of our divided homeland, reiterating that what is needed is to reach a solution on the basis of the agreed framework that will truly reunite the country and create promising prospects for the future.
He noted that the solution should restore, to the maximum extent possible, the constitutional and territorial breach that Turkey has illegally and by force of arms caused on the island and that will reunite the institutions and the people, with the only guarantees being those of co-creation, development and progress for both us Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The Interior Minister further stated that despite the efforts of the President of the Republic for progress on the Cyprus problem and a return to talks, Turkey persists in escalating its provocative and aggressive behaviour, constantly violating international law and the law of the sea, with its illegal actions directed against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
The Interior Minister made extensive reference to the action and sacrifice of Stylianos Lena, noting that sixty-five years since the melancholic spring of '57 and almost forty-eight years since the dismal summer of '74, we remember Stylianos Lena and pray not only for the repose of his soul, but also for the resurrection of our souls.
Source: KYPE
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
