Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went on another tirade expressing immense frustration over the successful policies by the administration of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that helped Greece develop new alliances and isolate Turkey.
In his latest tirade, Erdoğan expressed frustration because Mitsotakis highlighted during his trip to Nicosia that the only solution, as support by the United Nations and European Union, is a federation rather than a two state solution that the Turks are pushing for.
"Now, Mitsotakis challenged me. How shall we get together after you challenged me like this?" Erdoğan said today.
"You better know your place. If there is a search for peace, don't challenge me too, know your limits," he continued.
"If not, that means you kicked [the negotiation] table and ran away from it. We cannot sit at the table with you," the Turkish president said.
"What you do on the islands [militarization] is obvious, what is it that makes you confident? You trust there will be support from somewhere again? If you think this, you are wrong," Erdoğan continued in an obvious sign of frustration.
"No matter where the support comes from, know this: Turkey is standing tall, firm on its ground and knows what to do whatever is necessary when needed," he said.
He added "I would like to remind Mitsotakis one more thing: You place your trust on some mountains [allies], but those mountains were blanketed all over with a snow [allies deserted] over Greece."
"You won't get any benefit from them. But we make our decisions on our own and make our own way," he said. "Therefore, you better know the crazy Turks well."
"Apart from the two-state solution, there is no exit left in Cyprus. Whether you accept it or not, there is no such thing as a federation anymore," he concluded.
Speaking in Parliament, President #Erdogan hurled threats against #Greece today, said Greek Prime Minister does know his place, deserted by allies, made it clear #Turkey would respond to Greece with whatever necessary when needed, and ruled out a unified #Cyprus option for good. pic.twitter.com/FI9y9HhCZ8
— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) February 10, 2021
Days ago, Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades took a joint position on the Cyprus issue.
The two leaders called for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation as the only solution to resolve the division of Cyprus caused by the 1974 Turkish invasion that led to 200,000 refugees, thousands of deaths and hundreds of women raped.
“I assured that the end of Turkey’s occupation and the finding of a functional and mutually acceptable solution remains a top priority of Greek foreign policy, an act of justice to the Cypriot people,” said Mitsotakis, referring to a “national priority.”
He expressed the commitment of both sides to the UN decisions that define the “only universally binding solution framework” for the Cyprus issue is a “bi-zonal bi-communal solution.”
“Unfortunately,” he added, “Turkey and the new Turkish Cypriot leader are “outside the UN, insisting on the groundless position of two states, something rejected, not only by Greece and Cyprus, but also the UN and the EU.”
“Ankara and [Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin] Tatar should know that the resumption of dialogue will take place within the limits I have underlined,” he said, adding that “the solution must not serve Turkey’s goals.”
The need to comply with international rules was also mentioned by Anastasiades, who stressed that the goal is to “serve the rights of all the people” and not to have “superpowers” for any party.
For these statements, Erdoğan claims he was insulted and the reason why he cannot meet with Mitsotakis.
Erdoğan is attempting to pressure international bodies to accept a two state solution in Cyprus, something that has found no support.
