Turkish Foreign Min. Cavusoglu downplays national sovereignty in face of refugees crisis!

On his official visit to Greece, Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu said that matters of national sovereignty are of secondary importance when it comes to rescuing refugees, on Friday, March 3. During the joint press conference held after a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, the Turkish diplomat said “Whether it is your island, or my island? Such matters are not on the table when it concerns issues of rescue”. The two men discussed a number of bilateral issues concerning the two countries, with the refugee crisis being on the top of their agenda. They also touched on the escalating conflict in Syria, seeing eye to eye on the need for a global effort to battle the refugee crisis. On his part, Nikos Kotzias underlined that Greece was in favour of developing a better relationship with Turkey, adding that internatio0nal law and neighbourly relations were a prerequisite to the extent this could aid in resolving the bilateral problems. On the 42-year long standing Cypriot problem (the island is divided due to Turkish military forces illegally occupying the northern part of Cyprus), Kotzias expressed the desire of Greece to reach a solution reflecting the desires of both sides. The two men will meet again at the bilateral cabinet summit of the two countries scheduled to take place in Smyrna, Turkey, Monday, March 7.