ANKARA (ANA-MPA) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday dismissed any link between the occupation of one-third of northern Cyprus by Turkish forces and the situation in Gaza.
The Turkish premier made the comment when asked to comment on a report that an Israeli vessel would sail to Cyprus to protest the Turkish occupation of one-third of the island republic.
"The Turkish military is not an occupier on Cyprus, rather it is on the island for the needs that arise from Turkey's capacity as a guarantor power," he told reporters.
"If the ship goes to south Cyprus {the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus} then the issue does not affect us," he said.
"The Turkish military ... is there (Cyprus) to ensure the peace and due to the needs that arise from Turkey's capacity as a guarantor power. Whatever other claim is unacceptable. After all, soldiers are present in south Cyprus as well," he said.
Erdogan made the comments during a press conference in Istanbul with visiting Syrian leader Bashar al-Asad, on the sidelines of a Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, or CICA.
Caption: A file photo shows the "Green Line" dividing the government-controlled areas on the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish-occupied northern areas. ANA-MPA / EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU
ANA
