Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with President Anastasiades does not mean that Turkey recognizes the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, adding that saying “hello” is a human duty. Regarding the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Turkish Foreign Minister claimed that with his speech to the American Congress he humiliated “himself”.
In an interview with NTV, the Turkish Foreign Minister said about the F16s that Turkey is trying to acquire from the US that “of course, the Greek lobby says ‘don't give them’ (the F16s), and other lobbies might say don't give them.” He then said that “Mitsotakis begged saying 'don't give in' speaking against Turkey, against the spirit of the alliance in a way that humiliated himself. There are such efforts, but we believe that it will not be a problem”, Mevlut Cavusoglu asserted.
The Turkish Foreign Minister was also asked about the opposition official's criticisms because the Turkish President attended a dinner attended by President Anastasiades.
“It wouldn't be right to leave there just because someone was there. So let's leave the UN as well. Let's not even attend the meetings of the European Union. This was a transatlantic meal, informal. It was on the sidelines of the Summit, but not related to the Summit. So while everyone was there – partners also participate – Spain wanted to organize such a dinner. Something similar is happening at the UN,” said Mevlut Cavusoglu.
He also mentioned that “there are such transatlantic dinners on the sidelines of the general assembly, it takes place at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, it is an informal meal. In informal spaces we also meet people from the EU side, whether it is the EU leader or their Foreign Ministers. Sometimes they come and try to approach us. When you see it, first of all all, what is human duty? To say hello to a person”.
He then said that “it is obvious what was the response of our President to the request for a meeting there. Our President also shared it in the media. After all, this is an informal transatlantic meal. It is the continuation of this lunch that took place in New York at the level of leaders. After all, although it is on the sidelines of the Summit, it is not a meal at the venue of the Summit and in the Summit program and is an informal meal given by the host”.
“We are not a country that flees because there is the s/c domain today and someone else tomorrow at an informal dinner given by the host. There's no reason to run. This does not mean that we recognize them. When our President meets Anastasiades on the sidelines of the UN, they chat. Whenever I meet their Foreign Minister, we also chat, wherever they are. After all, even if we have differences of opinion and problems, it does not mean that we will never talk to them and never greet them. No need to get it anywhere else. The President gave us the best answer,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said.
Source: KYPE
