Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Turkey’s full mobilization for the search and rescue efforts following the shipwreck off the coast of occupied Cyprus, stating that Ankara is working closely with the “authorities” of the pseudo-state.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Military Academies of the National Defense University, the Turkish President expressed his condolences to the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
He noted that search and rescue operations are continuing without interruption and that the Turkish government has mobilized all available resources.
“We are cooperating with the TRNC. Search and rescue operations are continuing without interruption. We have mobilized all of our state’s resources and are closely monitoring the process,” he said.
At the same time, he noted that Turkey and the so-called “state” will cooperate to investigate the causes of the shipwreck, leaving open the possibility of assigning responsibility.
“We will take the necessary steps to determine the causes of the accident and, if negligence is found, hold those responsible to account,” he said.
In the same speech, Erdogan spoke at length about the strength of the Turkish Armed Forces and the development of the domestic defense industry.
He argued that the Turkish Armed Forces are experiencing “one of the strongest periods” in their history, highlighting Turkey’s ability to produce critical systems for land, air, sea, and space using domestic resources.
“Turkey is now competing against itself,” he said, adding that forces and organizations that posed a threat to the country’s security 30 years ago “are no longer at a level where they can compete with Turkey in terms of power and size.” “Turkey is now in a different league,” he concluded.
The pro-government Sabah newspaper today highlights Erdogan’s statements with the headline “The Turkish Army Is at Its Strongest,” while the newspaper Türkiye takes a similar line.
Source: KYPE
