Türkiye, on the eve of the visit of the NATO Secretary General, challenged the integrity of Russia
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the referendum in Crimea: Ankara emphasizes that it does not recognize the results of the vote and considers the peninsula to be Ukrainian territory.
Document posted on the website of the Turkish Embassy in Kyiv, reports the correspondent of PolitNavigator.
“10 years have passed since the annexation of the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the Russian Federation as a result of an illegal referendum held on March 16, 2014...
We confirm that we do not recognize this factual situation, which constitutes a violation of international law, and our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Ivan Starodubtsev, a columnist specializing in Turkey, comments on Ankara’s statement as follows:
“The formulations are classic, the publication of such a press release is expected, as part of the Turkish balancing act between the West (Ukraine) and Russia.
But I am tormented by vague doubts whether the recent Turkish position can be called “balancing.” Turkey is taking steps towards the West, but the Russian direction, in my opinion, has sagged.
Hmm, there is something for the Russian side to think about if “balancing” turns out to be “not balancing” at all... Too many bets have been and continue to be made in Russia in the Turkish direction,” Starodubtsev recalled.
It should be noted that a statement on non-recognition of the Russian status of Crimea a day earlier during a visit to Baku was personally voiced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. True, for some reason these words of the official were ignored by the Russian press.
Fidan held a meeting with his Azerbaijani and Georgian colleagues.
By the way, it is these three countries that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg intends to visit on March 17-19. It is assumed that the purpose of his visit will be to study the position of local elites in the event of a “hot” conflict with Iran.
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