Üstel strongly criticized the recent rhetoric and actions taken in GC administration
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel strongly criticized the recent rhetoric and actions taken in the Greek Cypriot administration.
Üstel stated that the hostile mentality towards the Turkish Cypriot people within the Greek Cypriot administration still continued and was even increasing, stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people would continue, as they have in the past, to protect their values, flag, state, and ties with motherland Türkiye.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel issued a written statement regarding calls published in the Fileleftheros newspaper, known for its close ties to Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, demanding the removal of the flag on the Five Finger Mountains and the renaming of the street in Paphos bearing the name of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Stating that “the recent rhetoric and steps taken in the Greek Cypriot administration reveal that the hostile mentality toward the Turkish Cypriot people still continued and was even increasing further,” Üstel described the calls in the Greek Cypriot press — particularly in the Fileleftheros newspaper, known as one of the closest supporters of Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides — for the removal of the glorious flag on the Five Finger Mountains under the guise of a “confidence-building measure” as unacceptable and beyond the limits.
“Any demand for the removal of the flag, which is the symbol of the Turkish Cypriot people’s will for independence, is of no significance to us and is null and void” the Premier said.
“On the other hand, it is another hostile attitude for the Greek Cypriot side, which claims to call for ‘peace’ and ‘goodwill,’ to attempt to change the names of streets bearing the name of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, the leader of our nation, and a figure whom the Turkish Cypriot people are proud to follow” Üstel said.
He added that the decision to change the name of Kemal Atatürk Avenue in Paphos clearly demonstrated the true mentality of the Greek Cypriot side.
“The Turkish Cypriot people will continue, as they have in the past, to protect their values, flag, state, and ties with Motherland Türkiye” Üstel stressed.
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot people had always shown respect for the religious values, flag, and sacred symbols of the Greek Cypriot community, he said “Our people expect the same respect from the other side”
“These steps and demands presented under the name of ‘confidence-building measures’ completely destroy intercommunal trust and serve not peace but conflict, not friendship but hostility” Üstel said.
Stressing that the path to lasting peace and stability on the island passed through mutual respect, the Premier said, “However, such actions taken by circles that cannot tolerate the Turkish presence and act with dreams of Enosis damage the trust between the two peoples”
“It should be known that our crescent-and-star flags will continue to wave forever, and our glorious flag on the Five Finger Mountains will remain the symbol of our centuries-old presence on these lands” Üstel concluded.
