In his video message to the Fourth Summit of the Crimean Platform, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined that international law mandates that Crimea be returned to Ukraine.
Expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed to organising the Summit, particularly President ZELENSKYY and Mustafa Kırımoğlu, the National Leader of the Crimean Tatar People, President Erdoğan reiterated that this year's Summit coincides with the 80th anniversary of the exile of the Crimean Tatar people.
The suffering of the tragedy of our Crimean Tatar Turkish kinsmen, who were forcibly expelled from their homeland, has not eased for 80 years, and their wounds have yet to be healed, President Erdoğan said and continued: "The suffering was exacerbated by the annexation of Crimea, which Türkiye opposed from the beginning and refused to recognise. Our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence remains unwavering. International law mandates that Crimea be returned to Ukraine."
Emphasising that ensuring the safety and well-being of our Crimean Tatar Turkish kinsmen, who are among Crimea's indigenous population, remains a top priority in Turkish foreign policy, President Erdoğan said, "I would like to express my gratitude for the legal arrangements that the Government of Ukraine has pioneered to strengthen the rights of the Crimean Tatar Turks. I believe that further steps will continue to be taken in the upcoming period to consolidate the rights of Crimean Tatar Turks."
Noting that Crimean Tatar Turks have the right to live a free, secure, and peaceful life in their homeland, President Erdoğan stated:
"We are pleased to note that Nariman Celal, the Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, was released in June following nearly three years of captivity. We expect all our Crimean Tatar kinsmen, including the brothers Asan and Aziz Akhmetov, to be released as soon as possible.
It is our sincere aspiration that the war will conclude with a fair and enduring peace that is founded on Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. As I conclude my remarks, I hope that our efforts within the platform will contribute to international efforts to achieve peace in Crimea, Ukraine, and the region. On the 80th anniversary of their exile, I once again pay tribute to the cherished memories of our Crimean Tatar Turkish kinsmen who passed on to eternity."