President Erdoğan: "We continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."
President Erdoğan sent a video message to "3rd Summit of the International Crimea Platform"
Starting his speech by extending his most heartfelt greetings to President Volodymr ZELENSKYY of Ukraine, heads of state and government, Leader of the Crimean Tatar Turks and Member of Parliament of Ukraine, MUSTAFA KIRIMOĞLU, and other participants, President Erdoğan expressed immense pleasure to address the third Summit of the International Crimea Platform, albeit via video message.
President Erdoğan emphasized his belief that this Platform, which was established with the intention of advocating for the Crimean cause more effectively through peaceful means, would strengthen the arguments they seek to convey regarding Crimea.
President Erdoğan continued:
"Türkiye does not recognise the annexation of Crimea and has steadfastly defended the illegality of this action from the very beginning. We continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. We have voiced on every platform, including at the United Nations, that Crimea is a part of Ukraine. The safety and well-being of our Crimean Tatar Turkish kinsmen, one of the indigenous peoples of Crimea, is also one of our top priorities.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our hope for the release of NARİMAN CELAL, the detained Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, as well as his friends. As I have always stated, "there are no winners in war and no losers in peace." With this understanding, we persist in our belief that the war, which has been ongoing for about two years, should be resolved through the establishment of a fair and durable peace. We are working very hard to keep the lines of communication open in order to stop the bloodshed in this process, or at the very least to get the parties ready for the negotiating table"
"Our efforts to revitalise the Black Sea Initiative continue"
President Erdoğan expressed his belief that it is important to avoid taking any actions during this process that will exacerbate the tension and disrupt the peace in the Black Sea, and went on to say,
"In support of the establishment of peace, we are adamant about continuing our facilitation and mediation efforts with courage and tenacity. People not only in the region but also around the world will feel relieved when the war is over and peace and stability are restored in the Black Sea Basin. I reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, and I hope that a climate of peace will soon return to our region"