Return of Crimea to Ukraine requirement of international law – Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed the unwavering support of Türkiye for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and emphasized its continued support for the rights of the Crimean Tatars.

He said this in a video address to the Fourth Summit of Crimean Platform Leaders on September 11, Anadolu reports.

"Our support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is unshakable. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law," said the President of Türkiye.

He stressed Turkiye’s position on Crimea, stressing that its return to Ukraine complies with international legal standards, pointing to the inevitable pain felt by the Crimean Tatars, whose suffering has lasted for eight decades.

Erdogan also expressed confidence in further actions to support the Crimean Tatar people, saying: "I believe that additional steps will be taken to strengthen the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in the future."

The President of Türkiye thanked the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leader of the Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, for their role in organizing the summit, which marks the 80th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars.

He also emphasized that Türkiye never recognized the annexation of Crimea, which increased the suffering of the region's population. Erdogan emphasized the right of the Crimean Tatars to live "freely, safely and peacefully in their own homeland."

The President also noted the positive development of events regarding the release of Nariman Dzhelyal from captivity and expressed hope for the release of all Crimean Tatar compatriots, including Hasan Akhmedov and Aziz Akhmedov.

Concluding his speech, Erdogan conveyed Ankara's broader aspirations for a resolution to the conflict: "Our sincere desire is for the war to end with a just and lasting peace based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine."

Finally, he expressed hope that the platform's efforts would contribute to international peace initiatives in the region and honored the memory of those who passed away during the 80th anniversary of the exile.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, today also President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska took part in the opening of the Memorial to the Victims of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People in Kyiv within the framework of the fourth summit of the Crimean Platform.

In addition, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and the Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa arrived on a visit to Kyiv.

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