UPDATE - Türkiye rules out fresh Cyprus talks unless 2 sides negotiate 'as equals'

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) — Türkiye does not see any fresh negotiation process starting on Cyprus without both sides on the island sitting down and rising from talks "as equals," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.

"Frankly, we don’t see the possibility of starting a new negotiation process in Cyprus without establishing an equation where both sides sit at the table as equals and leave as equals," Erdogan told reporters on his return flight from an official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Commenting on recent remarks by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, calling Turks "occupiers," Erdogan said the comment "could not be more impudent," urging Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to put Dendias "in his place."

He said that while populism has been used at various times to sabotage relations between the two nations, Ankara wants to advance ties with Greece with a "spirit of good neighborliness."

"Of course, this situation does not require us to remain silent in the face of such delusions. As everyone knows well, Türkiye conducted the Cyprus Peace Operation, as the name suggests, for peace, and as a result of this intervention, peace was established," he added.

He reiterated that the 1974 operation was carried out within the framework of Türkiye's right of guarantorship granted by international law.

On attempts by the Greek Cypriot administration's attempts to build a naval base on the island's southeastern coast in collaboration with Greece, Erdogan said Ankara would take the "necessary steps when needed and does what needs to be done."

He said that Türkiye would not shy away from constructing naval bases or other maritime structures in Northern Cyprus if this proves "necessary."

Mentioning that Türkiye has been building a parliament and presidency building in the TRNC, Erdogan said: "They (the Greek Cypriot side) are building a military base; we are establishing a political presence."

Erdogan also urged against moves escalating tensions in Cyprus, adding that "complicity in massacres in Israel would serve neither Greek Cypriots nor Greece."

"We also have sea," he added.