According to the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis, the Turkish Minister of National Defense, Yaşar Güler, during a presentation regarding the budgets of his Ministry and its affiliated organizations for 2026 before the Planning and Budget Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, stated the following: “We continue to defend the rights and interests of our Cypriot brothers. It is a fact that the only way to achieve a just and lasting solution on the island is the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots.
Güler stated that they are making every possible effort to protect the rights and interests in our homeland, and that they are effectively carrying out activities in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean in line with national interests. Güler stated that they wish for the resolution of problems with Greece, the further development of the existing positive climate of dialogue, and for the Aegean Sea to become a region of peace and stability.
He said: “We undertake diplomatic initiatives within the framework of international law against any kind of projects and initiatives that Greece attempts to implement unilaterally in the region, and we decisively apply all necessary measures based on reciprocity.”
Güler emphasized that no project that ignores Turkey or aims to usurp its rights can be implemented in the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean, and noted the following: “We continue to defend the rights and interests of our Cypriot brothers. It is a fact that the only way to achieve a just and lasting solution on the island is the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, the desire of the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus’ to develop military and political relations with countries within and outside the region and to acquire weapons escalates tensions and undermines stability. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that we stand by our Cypriot brothers under all circumstances, while at the same time taking the necessary measures in line with our proactive defense and security policy against these efforts.”
Güler stated that they are making every possible effort to protect the rights and interests in our homeland, and that they are effectively carrying out activities in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean in line with national interests. Güler stated that they wish for the resolution of problems with Greece, the further development of the existing positive climate of dialogue, and for the Aegean Sea to become a region of peace and stability.
He said: “We undertake diplomatic initiatives within the framework of international law against any kind of projects and initiatives that Greece attempts to implement unilaterally in the region, and we decisively apply all necessary measures based on reciprocity.”
Güler emphasized that no project that ignores Turkey or aims to usurp its rights can be implemented in the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean, and noted the following: “We continue to defend the rights and interests of our Cypriot brothers. It is a fact that the only way to achieve a just and lasting solution on the island is the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, the desire of the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus’ to develop military and political relations with countries within and outside the region and to acquire weapons escalates tensions and undermines stability. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that we stand by our Cypriot brothers under all circumstances, while at the same time taking the necessary measures in line with our proactive defense and security policy against these efforts.”
