We have magnificent palaces... Who needs UAVs and UCAVs!

Thanks to the 50th anniversary of the Peace Operation, we have drawn attention to both the AKP's zigzags in our Cyprus policy and the discomfort felt by Erdoğan and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding Greek Defense Minister Dendias.

The formula found by Özgür Özel, who called Dendias a "hawk"—a man who, unlike others, does not play a role to stall Ankara but openly displays his hostility toward Turkey—was to ask Erdoğan to have his counterparts in Greece control "this man."

There is no need to reach out to Greece; let us ask a single question using an example from our own country:

As far as we know, the CHP is uncomfortable with many of the government's ministers. If Özel were to ask Erdoğan to "control" them, what would happen?!

As for Erdoğan's solution, "Mr. Mitsotakis needs to put this minister of his in his place";

Firstly, thank God we do not have a minister who would annoy Greece, but let's assume we did. Mitsotakis also asked Erdoğan to "put that minister in his place." Would he do it?

Secondly, our side claims that "he is playing to replace Mitsotakis"; does targeting Dendias with both the government and the opposition in our country discredit him in the eyes of the Greek public, or does it make him a hero? Do you see how they are carrying water to Dendias's mill?

Thirdly, we reported what Mitsotakis said regarding the Peace Operation. Let us assume that Erdoğan was unaware of those delusions while he was on his way back, and that he asked Mitsotakis to put Dendias in his place without knowing about them. Fine, but was he also unaware that the Greek Prime Minister's office had announced a day earlier that Mitsotakis would attend the "50th anniversary of the Turkish occupation" event, and that on the morning of July 20, Mitsotakis had shared a post accompanied by a map of Cyprus divided by blood, stating, "we do not want a foreign occupation army"?

In short; what kind of foreign policy is this?!

Let's look at the pro-government media. They finally saw the statements Mitsotakis made in the Greek Cypriot side on the evening of July 20 yesterday. Yeni Şafak implied that Mitsotakis did not keep his promise to Erdoğan with the headline, "Arrogant statement regarding Turkey in Cyprus."

Let's see who they will complain to about Mitsotakis and who they will ask to put him in his place!..

Hürriyet, on the other hand, interpreted Mitsotakis's delusions as "giving morale to the Greeks." Go figure; perhaps Dendias, who angered Erdoğan, Özgür Özel, and our media so much, spoke that way just to "give morale to the Greeks"!..

In short, whatever we touch falls apart.

WAS THAT QUESTION ASKED FOR THIS ANSWER?

As of yesterday, let's come to the real issue that no one except Mehmet Ali Güller from Cumhuriyet has focused on. The essence of the matter is this:

The Greek Cypriot side, backed by the US, EU, Israel, and even Erdoğan's close friend Qatar, has begun to seize resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Following the Palestine-Israel war, they have collectively turned Cyprus into a logistics base for Israel.

As is known, we are one of the three guarantor states in Cyprus. But other than denying the claim that US planes landing at Incirlik were carrying weapons to Israel via the Greek Cypriot side, Ankara has not made a peep about what is happening.

The fire of Gaza has spread or is about to spread to Cyprus... TRNC President Ersin Tatar is crying out, but no one is listening...

At this very critical point, Greece, with the support of the US and the EU, has agreed with the Greek Cypriot side to turn a port there into a military base. Greek Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas also clearly stated that the base is related to Gaza.

Upon this, TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı emphasized that "From this point on, it is time to establish a naval base in the TRNC by reaching an agreement with Turkey," and stressed that it was their greatest wish for this issue to be addressed and concluded on the 50th anniversary of the Peace Operation.

And so, somehow, while returning from the TRNC, Erdoğan was asked about this demand by Minister Arıklı, as well as the use of Cyprus as a logistics base for Israel and Ersin Tatar's outbursts.

Erdoğan gave the following response, word for word:

"We are currently building the North Cyprus Presidential building and the North Cyprus Parliament building on the Island. I said, let me see them, what is the situation? Both are becoming magnificent buildings. God willing, they will be finished by mid-November at the latest. When these two buildings, the presidential building and the parliament building, are finished, a very beautiful mosque is being built next to them to serve that area. I suppose there is nothing more important than these bases. They are building military bases, we are building political bases. We will continue the work in the best way possible. In the meantime, I need to go for another inspection to see what the state of the construction is. From what I can see, a truly magnificent work is emerging from Cyprus stone. In other words, Turkey takes the necessary steps when the time comes and does what needs to be done. One must carefully avoid steps that will never contribute to the peace of the island, will increase tensions, and will lead to violations of international law. Being a partner in the massacre in Israel does not benefit the Greek Cypriots or Greece. Furthermore, if necessary, we will build a naval base and naval structures in the north. We also have a sea."

Even though Erdoğan does not see such a risk, at a time when even Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks of the danger of a third world war, what is the connection between a military base and the construction of a Presidential palace, parliament building, and a mosque?

A pro-government writer provided a tremendous explanation for the palace-parliament building-mosque trio, which Erdoğan called "nothing more important than these bases," saying, "They are after military bases, we are establishing democracy bases on the Island... We are after a base of democracy and civilization." He also defended Erdoğan by saying that he reminded people like Dendias, who are insolent, of "peace and democracy with great maturity instead of provocative speeches."

Pardon me; but if that is the case, when we have our grand complex, our magnificent palaces, our parliament building turned into a base with police barricades against animal rights activists as if the Greek army had reached the Dikmen ridges, and thousands of gigantic mosques, what is the need for UAV, UCAV, and aircraft carrier projects?!

I swear, the only thing the insolent people we are facing will understand from this answer is, "Don't worry, we are not building any bases in the TRNC."!..

How can one not be suspicious and think, "Was that question asked just to give this message?"?!

HE HAD NO WILLINGNESS 6 YEARS AGO EITHER

To understand Erdoğan's approach to establishing a base in the TRNC, let's go back to the years 2017-2018. When they sat at the table for Cyprus negotiations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the Greek Cypriot side and their bosses repeated their demand for the Turkish military to leave the Island.

In response, experts on the subject, a section of the media, Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu, and even the Naval Forces Command brought up the issue of Turkey establishing air and naval bases on the island to strengthen its military presence in the TRNC. When the Western media presented this as "TSK wants to establish a permanent naval base in the TRNC," the issue was asked to Erdoğan.

His answer at that time was as follows:

"We do not have a problem called a base in the TRNC. Reaching there from our lands, reaching the Eastern Mediterranean is something that can be talked about in minutes. But Greece does not have such proximity there. That is only the psychological dimension of the matter. In this respect, if we need it, we can also establish a base."

While no base was established despite so many developments in the past 6 years and all kinds of powers settling in Cyprus, the construction of the Presidential palace, parliament building, and mosque was started... We will make do with these until the time comes when we "need a base"!..

It is obvious that there is a lack of willingness and foot-dragging... And you have also fallen into a state of knocking on every door for money...

Otherwise, can one simultaneously pull a "two-state solution" bluff and then say, "We will not leave the hand extended for a solution hanging in the air"?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

July 23, 2024