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Greek diplomatic sources have reacted to remarks made by the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Cyprus.

In a speech he delivered to Turkish military personnel at a dinner Monday, Erdogan not only defended the Turkish invasion of Cyprus but went even further by arguing that if Turkish forces had moved further south in 1974, then Cyprus might be all Turkish today.

The statements of the Turkish president regarding the illegal invasion of Cyprus in 1974 constitute a blatant distortion of the historical truth and an insult to the memory of the victims, Greek diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.

Much more so when this is done at a time when there is an ongoing effort, under the auspices of the United Nations, to resume the talks for the Cyprus issue in the context of the decisions of the UN Security Council, the same sources added.

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Erdogans comments on Cyprus a blatant distortion of the historical truth, say sources - Kathimerini English Edition

NICOSIA Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans lament Turkey should have taken over all of Cyprus in unlawful 1974 invasions instead of just seizing the northern third drew fire from the Cypriot government thats a member of the European Union.

Erdogan, in a speech he delivered to Turkish military personnel, said The Turkish-Cypriots came back from the brink of genocide. In the Peace Operation of 1974, 498 of our soldiers from all corners of the country, officers, non-commissioned officers and civilians, were martyred.

Despite all the pressures, if it were not for Turkeys intervention, neither the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus nor the Turkish Cypriots would exist today. In fact, perhaps if we had pushed south, and I say this as a child of the present, there would be no more south and north and Cyprus would be completely ours, he said.

Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said The unacceptable statements by Erdogan once again demonstrate the obvious, that archaic guarantees have no place in a modern, European state.

He added they were condemnable (and) provocative. For 50 years now, Cyprus, a full member state of the EU, has been under occupation following the barbaric invasion of 1974, with decades of diplomatic failures in reunification.

He also said that Erdogan showed a lack of respect for international and EU laws, United Nations Security Council resolutions and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has sent another envoy, Colombian diplomat, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, to Cyprus.

The Turkish President chooses to send a message of division, blatantly violating and ignoring UN Security Council resolutions, Letymbiotis said. Erdogan and Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar rejected reunification talks and demanded the world and UN accept the isolated occupied side that only Turkey recognizes.

Letymbiotis said, We will continue to exert all our efforts to restart negotiations from where they left off, aiming for the definitive resolution of the Cyprus problem, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, fully aligned and consistent with UN Security Council resolutions. This is our historic responsibility and our highest national priority.

Asked if the government believes, after Erdogans statements,there is still a possibility that UN envoy Maria Holguin will succeed, Letymbiotis said that her presence on the island opens a new period in our efforts to restart negotiations, said The Cyprus Mail.

We will not allow anyone to divert us from this mission, that is, the resolution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework. It will not be solved through public statements, and we will not tolerate or accept such statements from Turkey, he said.

Greeces major opposition SYRIZA called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to respond to what Erdogan said, accusing him of going soft on the Turkish leader during a time of rapprochement between the countries.

Cyprus has been left out of the dialogue and not spoken about in an apparent attempt to prevent any resumption of potential conflict while Greece and Turkey are talking about other issues, especially sovereignty of the seas.

SYRIZA unequivocally condemns the latest provocative statements by the Turkish president about the Cyprus issue, it said, adding President Erdogans unconscionable statements clearly undermine the positive climate in Greek-Turkish relations, which the Mitsotakis government complacently insists on.

Just three months after the signing of the Athens Declaration, Turkey is once more violating its spirit and letter, SYRIZAs statement added, referring to a non-binding agreement signed between Mitsotakis and Erdogan to improve ties.

SYRIZA, now under the leadership of Greek-American Stefanos Kasselakis, stated that Mitsotakis should answer Erdogans statement with the necessary diplomatic actions to make clear that such unacceptable and inflammatory statements weigh against Greek-Turkish and Euro-Turkish relations.

SYRIZA accused Mitsotakis and the government of pursuing an intransparent foreign policy that ignored the Cyprus dilemma and was reluctant to confront the often volatile Erdogan, who has ratcheted down his belligerence.

Attempts at reunification have failed for decades, the last round of talks breaking off in July, 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana when Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriots said they would never remove a 35,000-strong army and wanted the right of further military intervention.

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Cyprus Condemns Erdogan Saying Turkey Should Have Occupied Island - The National Herald

Had we advanced further south, Cyprus would have fallen entirely under our control, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said when he addressed the staff of the 4th Army Corps in Ankara, making controversial remarks about Cyprus and emphasizing the importance of military strength.

During an iftar dinner, marking the break of fasting during Ramadan, Erdogan reflected on Turkeys military intervention in Cyprus in 1974. He argued that without Turkeys intervention, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots would not exist today. Erdogan even suggested that if Turkey had advanced further south, Cyprus would be entirely under Turkish control.

Erdogans statements come on the heels of the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, a significant event in Turkish history. He stressed the necessity of a strong military, stating that it is not a choice but an obligation for Turkey. Erdogan emphasized the importance of maintaining a deterrent capability to protect against enemies.

The presidents remarks have sparked controversy, particularly regarding Turkeys stance on Cyprus and its military posture.

Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas

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Erdoan: Had we advanced further south, Cyprus would have fallen entirely under our control - Orthodox Times - Orthodoxtimes.com

Abdullah Bozkurt/Stockholm

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya avoided addressing a parliamentary question regarding a reported secret meeting of senior Hamas officials in Turkey, a country known to provide safe haven for Hamas leaders and members.

On December 17, 2023 the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported that senior Hamas figures, including Deputy Chairman of the Political Bureau Hamas Saleh al-Arouri and former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal, held a secret coordination meeting in Turkey in early December.

The venue was selected for security reasons, as Turkey, under the leadership of Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has become a major supporter of the Palestinian jihadist organization, offering sanctuary for Hamas figures.

The claim was brought up in the Turkish parliament on December 18 by Sreyya ne Derici, a retired intelligence officer from the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) who currently serves as a member of parliament from the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and sits on the parliamentary Committee for Security and Intelligence.

Derici inquired if such a meeting could potentially pose risks to Turkeys national security and sought clarification on whether Turkish officials were present at the meeting. She also questioned whether the Interior Ministry had any knowledge of the gathering from its sources.

Parliamentary question posed to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on secret Hamas meeting in Turkey:

Turkish law mandates that parliamentary questions be answered by cabinet ministers within 15 days; however, Yerlikaya allowed the deadline to pass without responding. On January 30 he sent a belated letter to parliament stating that the subject matter did not fall within his purview as interior minister.

What is more, Yerlikaya included his response with 19 other parliamentary questions directed to him, answering all with a single sentence indicating that none fell under his jurisdiction.

Its inconceivable that the Interior Ministry, responsible for immigration and overseeing entry and exit points for foreigners through border checkpoints, harbors, airports and land crossings, was unaware of the travels of Hamas members to Turkey. By law, the Directorate General of Migration Management, under the Interior Ministrys supervision, handles the entry, stay, exit and deportation of foreigners to and from Turkey.

The ministry also oversees the countrys largest law enforcement agency, the Security Directorate General (Emniyet), which includes a specialized intelligence branch responsible for gathering vast amounts of intelligence throughout Turkey.

Furthermore, the directorate provides protection details for VIPs, visiting dignitaries and visitors considered to be at risk as well as implementing security measures in and around venues requiring protection.

If Hamas leaders had indeed convened such a meeting, personnel from the Security Directorate General would have been intimately involved in their security arrangements.

Its no secret that the Erdogan government shelters Hamas leaders and members in Turkey, facilitates their networks, aids in fundraising activities and has even granted Turkish citizenship to dozens of Hamas leaders. President Erdogan openly declares his support for Hamas and repeatedly expresses his anti-Israel stance in his speeches.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikayas response to the claim of a secret Hamas meeting in Turkey:

The last instance of Erdogan endorsing Hamas was on March 9, 2024, during a speech at a convention organized by the Islamist lim Yayma Vakf foundation in Istanbul. He stated, Turkey openly and firmly stands behind Hamas, freely discussing everything with its leaders.

Erdogan rejected the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization, saying, We courageously declared to the whole world that such a black stain cannot be cast upon Palestinian militants who defend their land, their honor and their own people. No one can make us use the term terrorist organization for Hamas.

Threats made by Israeli officials to Hamas leaders under protection in Turkey also prompted a strong response from Turkey. During a press briefing on his return flight from Qatar on December 4, 2023, Erdogan said, If they dare to take such a step against Turkey and the Turkish people, they will be doomed to pay a price from which they cannot recover.

The Turkish president was responding to a Wall Street Journal article that claimed Israel was planning to target and kill Hamas members residing outside Palestine. He warned that those attempting such actions should be mindful of the potentially severe consequences.

In an unusual move, Turkish intelligence also addressed the claims through the state-run Anadolu news agency, stating unequivocally that it would never permit any plots orchestrated by Israeli intelligence to be carried out in Turkey.

In a recording aired by public broadcaster KAN in early December, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said Israel was determined to kill Hamass leaders in every location in the world, including Qatar, Turkey and Lebanon, even if it takes many years.

Al-Arouri, who participated remotely in the secret Hamas meeting held in Turkey in December from his location in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli strike on January 2. He was the founding commander of the Hamas military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and had been residing in Turkey, maintaining close contact with the top leadership of the Turkish government, including President Erdogan.

According to KAN, Hamas leadership felt confident that their security would not be compromised if they held a coordination meeting in Turkey to discuss steps for the ongoing conflict with Israel, which began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas attacks on Israeli military and civilian targets. In the assault, Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others.

There were also allegations that Hamas leaders were present in Turkey during the October attack. Speaking to CNN International on December 14, the Turkish presidents chief foreign policy and security adviser, Akif aatay Kl, conceded that Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh might have been in Turkey at the time. The issue is not where [Hamas members] are at what time; the issue is how we can resolve the conflict that were currently facing, the war that were currently engaged in, he said.

He defended his governments decision to host senior Hamas figures, claiming that Turkey is engaging with Hamas to bring about peace.

Turkeys intelligence agency MIT has reportedly established a specialized anti-Mossad unit comprising veteran officers. The assertion was made by Abdurrahman imek, identified as a public relations agent and propagandist for MIT. imek has been operating under the cover of a journalist at the Sabah daily, a media outlet considered a mouthpiece for the regime and owned by Erdogans family.

Within the organization [MIT] is a highly active and experienced unit engaged in the fight against Mossad. There are teams that are quite skilled, shall we say. They are aware of every step Mossad takes, imek said in an interview published by Sabah.

Since 2021, Turkey has carried out five planned police and intelligence operations against alleged Israeli intelligence activities on Turkish soil, resulting in criminal prosecutions. The operations were aimed at cracking down on surveillance activities attributed to Mossad that targeted Iranian, Hamas and affiliated groups operating out of Turkey.

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Erdogan government feigned ignorance about secret Hamas meeting in Turkey - Nordic Research and Monitoring Network

ANKARA Egyptian-Turkish relations continued their positive turn on Wednesday whenTurkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a first visit to Cairo since 2012, praising his once nemesis Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and calling him esteemed brother.

The mood was clear in the optics and the agenda of the visit. Sisi welcomed the Turkish leader at a Cairo airport, departing from traditional diplomatic protocol.

A red-carpet welcome reception and ceremony at Al-Ittihadiya Palace followed.

At the press conference later, Erdogan hailed the new chapter.

I believe that this visit will be a new turning point in our relations, Erdogan said at the joint presser, flanked by Sisi.

The Egyptian leader echoed the message. We can open a new page together between our countries in a way that enriches our bilateral relations and puts them on the right track, Sisi said.

The two countries inked several cooperation deals including in tourism, culture and education on the sidelines of the summit. The two capitals fully restored their diplomatic ties by appointing mutual ambassadors in July after a decade-long hiatus.

Reiterating the countries previously set goal to raise their bilateral trade volume, which currently stands at $10 billion, to $15 as soon as possible, Erdogan went on, Trade and economy have been the locomotive of our cooperation.

Adding that the two countries shared serious potential in thedefense industry, the Turkish leader said, I believe that we will develop joint projects with Egypt through our cooperation in this field. He did not elaborate further.

Earlier this month, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who joined Erdogan during the trip along with Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, announced that his country would soon begin drone exports to Egypt.

Sisi said the two countries would also seek to enhance joint investments and open new areas of cooperation.

The two leaders also reached an agreement to elevate the strategic cooperation council mechanism between the two countries, Erdogan said.

I told my esteemed brother that I was waiting to see him in Ankara at the earliest opportunity to hold our council meeting.

United front on Gaza

Presenting a united front over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, both leaders reiterated calls for an immediate cease-fire.

The humanitarian tragedy in the Palestinian territories topped our agenda. ... Our priority is to achieve a cease-fire as soon as possible and to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza without any obstacles, Erdogan said.

Sisi described Turkey and Egypt as centers of gravity in the region in a way that contributes to achieving peace, establishing stability.

Erdogan and Sisi also pledged to deepen contacts on files that caused previous tensions, including the Libyan civil war, in which the two capitals backed rival groups.

We also stressed the need to strengthen consultations between the two countries on the Libyan file in order to help hold presidential and legislative elections and unify the countrys military establishment, Sisi said.

Prior to a 2020 cease-fire, Ankara provided military support to the countrys Tripoli-based government against the Libyan National Army of eastern commander Khalifa Hifter, who is backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

Calm in Eastern Mediterranean

A controversial 2019 maritime delineation agreement between Turkey and Libyas Tripoli-based government prompted Egypt and Greece to sign a counteragreement last year, raising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over conflicting territorial claims between Ankara and Athens.

Hailing ongoing Turkish-Greek rapprochement that emerged after the devastating twin Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes, Sisi said his country was looking forward to building on the calm in the Eastern Mediterranean and to resolve the existing differences between the countries bordering the region in a bid to make the most of the natural resources available there.

Erdogan's one-day visit is the first Egyptian-Turkish leaders summit since 2012. Following the military coup in Egypt in 2013 that overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government led by late President Mohammed Morsi an ally of Turkey the relationship between Cairo and Ankara was curtailed. Following Erdogan's reelection in June, the two countries fully restored their diplomatic ties in July. In November, Erdogan and Sisi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in India.

This is a breaking story and has been updated since its initial publication.

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Turkey's Erdogan receives red-carpet reception in Egypt, calls Sisi 'brother' - Al-Monitor