During the war in Ukraine, the only country that has been able to mediate successfully so far has been Turkey.Continue reading
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus peace operation, addressing the media on various topics, including the efforts by EU leaders to prevent Hungary from holding the rotating presidency.
According to Index, President Erdoğan suggested that Türkiye should remain patient and observe developments. He emphasized Türkiye’s unwavering support for Turkish Cypriots, stating, “the cause of the Turkish Cypriots is a common cause of 85 million people; they are as much a part of the mainland as the mainlanders, and they are not a minority at all.”
During his speech in Nicosia, Mr. Erdoğan discussed Türkiye’s relationship with Greece, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the fight against terrorism.
He criticized U.S. support for Israel and mentioned his conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump following an assassination attempt. When asked about the potential impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on Turkish-American relations, the Turkish Head of State avoided a detailed response. He highlighted that Viktor Orbán faced criticism for his meetings with President Trump at the NATO summit and his visits to Moscow and Beijing. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan noted that EU leaders are currently considering “how we can remove Hungary from the EU presidency.”
The politician reiterated the importance of patience for Türkiye, stating: “Türkiye must now be patient and wait to see what happens,” while affirming the country’s commitment to democracy.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s peace initiative has been controversial among EU leaders, who have distanced themselves from it.
After his trip to Kiev, several leaders clarified that Mr. Orbán was not acting as an EU envoy, as he lacked the mandate for such a role. In a letter to EU leaders, the Hungarian PM reported that both Ukraine and Russia were not interested in negotiations, aiming instead to improve their positions for future talks, anticipating eventual ceasefire or peace discussions.
Following Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders criticized him. Ukrainian foreign policy expert Alexander Hara suggested that his mission was driven by his own economic and political motives.
The debate over Hungary’s eligibility for the rotating EU presidency began before Viktor Orbán’s tenure.
European Commission representatives had called for a boycott of Hungary, resulting in the cancellation of a foreign affairs summit in Budapest in August, and discussions about suspending Budapest’s voting rights have been ongoing.
Via Index; Featured Image: MTI / Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda / Benko Vivien Cher