“We cannot change geography; Turkey will always be a neighboring state to the Republic of Cyprus. Mr. Erdoğan will, of course, be welcome at this summit to discuss developments in the region,” Christodoulides told reporters in Nicosia, as reported by Reuters.
The escalating migration flows from Eastern Libya to Crete were a central theme of the Prime Minister’s interview. He highlighted the importance of discussing Libya at both the informal meeting of like-minded countries on migration and the European Council itself.
“At a time when a significant effort is being made by the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus problem, with the resumption of the informal talks and the appointment of Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as Personal Envoy, any action to create a fait accompli in the occupied territories is an extremely negative development,” Greek diplomatic sources noted on Sunday, swiftly responding to Erdogan’s statements.
Declaring Turkey and Turkish Cypriots the “rightful owners” of the region, Erdogan vowed their presence would persist “for centuries.” He framed the event as a step toward a shared future of “one nation, two states,” emphasizing unity and resolve.
The initiative, spearheaded by Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), aims to reflect Turkey’s perceived shift in geopolitical alignment away from Western alliances and towards U.S. adversaries.
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The agenda of the meeting will be strictly observed, as meetings within the framework of the UN Summit do not allow the same latitude as bilateral visits.
The “Blue Homeland” doctrine aims to expand Turkish influence over large areas of the Mediterranean and other seas, potentially impacting neighboring countries like Greece and Somalia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made provocative statements regarding the Cyprus issue during a recent flight back from the occupied territories, emphasizing the need for a two-state model as the sole solution to the longstanding conflict.
During the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye maintains its efforts to promote the spirit of solidarity with Greece based on good neighborly relations and that these endeavors will grow further.
The Cyprus issue stems from the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation.
Two leaders expected to hold brief talk on NATO Summit sidelines to review Greek-Turkish relations
