President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the Crimea Platform Online Leaders Summit via video message. “The extradition of Crimea to Ukraine, of which it is an inseparable part, is essentially a requirement of international law,” Erdogan said.
Greeting the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy, other heads of state and government and representatives of international organizations attending the summit with respect, Erdogan stated that he is pleased to address the summit held on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Crimean Platform.
Thanking the President of Ukraine Zelenskiy for his kind invitation, Erdogan stated that they found the platform established to defend the Crimean case more effectively through peaceful means appropriate and supported it.
Reminding that they showed their support to the establishment summit held in Kiev last year with the personal participation of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Erdogan stated that they will continue to contribute to the work of the platform at all levels in the coming period.
“It is required by international law”
Emphasizing that Turkey does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and that this step is illegitimate and unlawful, Erdogan has openly defended it from the first day, and said:
“This is a principled stance that has not only legal but also moral foundations. The return of Crimea to Ukraine, of which it is an inseparable part, is essentially a requirement of international law. The protection of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political unity is critical not only for regional but also for global security and stability. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our Crimean-Tatar cognates, who are among the indigenous peoples of Crimea, is also among Turkey’s priorities. Our Crimean Tatar citizens are close followers of developments in Crimea. On this occasion, Crimean Tatars who were detained after attending the first summit of the platform in Kiev last year I repeat our expectation that the First Vice President of the National Assembly Nariman Celal and his friends will be reunited with their homes and families as soon as possible.”
Erdogan stated that the Crimean Tatars, who have been subjected to great suffering throughout history, are fighting for the rightful struggle to live in peace in their homeland, and that Turkey will continue to stand by the Ukrainian government and the Crimean Tatars in this process.
“We are determined to continue our mediation efforts relentlessly”
President Erdogan stated that they support the need to end the war that has been going on since February 24 with a just peace on the basis of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Turkey-Russia-Ukraine Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Antalya in March and the peace talks they hosted in Istanbul and the agreement reached on grain were important and concrete achievements for this purpose. Recalling what they have achieved, Erdogan said:
“We demonstrated this stance once again during my visit to Lviv on August 18. However, the preservation of the momentum and its transformation into lasting results depend on the steps taken by the parties on the path to peace. We are determined to continue our facilitation and mediation efforts in line with the establishment of peace, tirelessly and tirelessly. The peace and stability of the basin will take a deep breath, not only for the region, but for the whole world. With these thoughts, I reiterate our support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, and hope that our region will regain a climate of peace as soon as possible. I send my respects and greetings to all of you, and express my heartfelt thanks. Bold good luck.”
