Cyprus president criticizes Turkish policy in Iraq, Syria at UN summit
The ongoing Turkey-Cyprus conflict was a major theme of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades speech at the United Nations General Assembly summit in New York.
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades tore into Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the UN summit Friday, criticizing Turkey’s policies not only in Cyprus, but in Iraq and Syria as well.
The UN General Assembly meeting is taking place in New York this week. Erdogan addressed the assembly on Tuesday.
Anastasiades used his speech to call out Erdogan directly. The Cypriot leader took issue with Erdogan’s comments on Turkey’s desire to have good relations with its neighbors. He specifically referenced Turkey’s control of parts of northeast Syria, attacks on Kurdish fighters in Iraq and dealings with post-civil war Libya to this end, insinuating that Turkey is not a friendly neighbor state to anyone.
“Mr. Erdogan also spoke of the need of maintaining good neighborly relations,” said Anastasiades. “Which country invaded Syria? Which country violates the sovereignty of Iraq? Which country intervenes in the internal affairs of Libya?”
