Cavusoglu | “Turkey acts in the spirit of 1974” 

“No one can achieve anything by bending Turkey. Equally, we are changing course in the Eastern Mediterranean, we are bending those moving against us,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu. He also said that Turkey is acting in the spirit of 1974.

In his speech on the Ministry’s budget in the Turkish National Assembly, the Turkish Minister said that Turkey is not merely a spectator at a time when the world is changing radically, adding that an active foreign policy is following. “If today, without Turkey or despite Turkey, no steps can be taken on the issues of Syria, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and Iraq, it is due to Turkey’s active foreign policy,” he said adding that “we do not expect everyone to love us but we expect Turkey to respect its rights. Turkey is now a global player, everyone will learn to respect it.”

Also read: Cavusoglu | Israel should annul its agreement with the Republic of Cyprus

The Turkish Minister said that “if we remain silent on the developments, like spectators, we will be forced to follow the game set by others. As Turkey, if necessary, we set up a game, but also when the time comes, we destroy the games that were set up against the interests of our country. We are obliged to be strong and to write our own history.”

The Turkish Minister claimed that with the dynamism brought by the presidential system of government, they learned to use the field of action together with the negotiating table harmoniously. “Diplomacy is always our priority. Our desire is always to solve problems through negotiations and within the win-win principle (everyone wins), but where diplomacy is insufficient in the field of action we again impose diplomacy and a peaceful solution. We do not make our presence felt in the field of action so as to stay at the table, but we ensure that everyone returns to the table by showing our strength in the field of action when the table is not working and we are obliged to do so. Otherwise, the problems will grow even bigger and we will reach a point where we cannot solve them,” said Mevlüt Cavusoglu.

Regarding Libya, the Turkish Minister said that from the beginning they have taken a role in favor of a political solution. “But those who do not want stability in Libya and those who do not understand dialogue wanted to continue the war and then with the authorization we received from our great National Assembly we went down to the field of action and brought everyone back to the negotiating table. This was done thanks to Turkey,” the Turkish minister said. 

Mevlüt Cavusoglu said that from the beginning they supported dialogue and fair sharing in the Eastern Mediterranean. “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and we said ‘let everyone win’. In return, we have always seen unilateral policies and raised the flag again. We supported our call for dialogue and fair sharing of the steps we have taken in the field of action. We will continue to protect the rights of our country and the Turkish Cypriots until the end,” said the Turkish Minister.

Recalling that the Deputy Chairman of the parliamentary group of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Engin Atalay spoke about the ‘spirit of 1974’, Mevlüt Cavusoglu said that, “while we make all these steps, we honestly say we are acting in the spirit of 1974. We are moving in the spirit of the late Ecevit, the late Necmettin Erbakan, the late Alparslan Turkes and we are keeping that spirit alive.” The Turkish minister added that “however, the opening of the enclosed city of Varosia was challenged by CHP members.”

The Turkish Minister stated that they work to protect the interests of Turkey and the nation and that in the field of action they have always ensured peace and justice. “We know Realpolitik very well. In foreign policy, in politics there is emotion but, especially in foreign policy, we know very well that not everything works with emotion. So we are trying to pursue a realistic policy.”

Referring to NATO, the Turkish Minister said that some allies say “let’s get Turkey out of NATO”. “I am one of the most powerful countries in NATO. I am one of the countries that contribute the most. Why should we leave NATO?” “We do not want anyone to leave, but if there is anyone who says ‘NATO is brain dead’, if there is anyone who is bothered by our power there and wants to leave (NATO) let him leave then,” said the Turkish Minister. 

In terms of the EU, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that “applying double standard.” We also have complaints. And you can criticize us. We have also shortcomings in this process, do self-criticism. But is it realistic to cut all our ties with the EU because of that? There are trade relations, there is energy, there is immigration, there are other issues, there is visa liberalization, we want to overcome the problems by developing our relations or to develop our relations by overcoming problems. It is our duty to take the necessary steps in this direction where we are right. It is not possible to give up the Eastern Mediterranean just because sanctions will be imposed or because the EU will criticize us,” he said. 

Addressing the opposition, Mevlüt Cavusoglu said that “as far as the defence industry is concerned, do not be bothered by the influx of world capital to boost production in our country, instead of depending on abroad … This does not mean that we are selling the country.”

On the Eastern Mediterranean, he said: “We may face impositions and difficulties, but today no one can achieve anything by bending Turkey. Equally, we change direction in the Eastern Mediterranean, we bend those moving against us. Be sure of that.”

Also read: European Union | The countries seeking sanctions – “Turkey did not respond to the positive invitation of the 27”