Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Keçeli denounces recent statements on demilitarized status of Aegean Islands
In a statement issued on March 5, 2026, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye spokesperson Öncü Keçeli addressed recent claims regarding the demilitarized status of the Eastern Aegean Islands and the Dodecanese.
Keçeli stressed that the legal status of these islands, defined under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, is clear and non-negotiable under international law. “We remind those who attempt baseless allegations and disinformation against our country that we will not allow unilateral maneuvers to alter established realities,” he said.
He further criticized parties allegedly seeking to exploit regional developments to strain bilateral relations with NATO ally Greece, describing such attempts as predictable but invalid. “Any steps by these circles that violate international law will be null and void,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Keçeli also highlighted the inconsistency of certain actors who previously sought to undermine the Turkish Cypriot community, noting that today they claim to protect them. “The Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the support of the motherland Türkiye, are fully capable of ensuring their own security and need no external assistance,” he said.
The statement concluded with a firm reminder that Türkiye will not tolerate disinformation campaigns targeting its national interests and called on all parties to act with reason and commitment to regional peace and stability.
