Yildirim discussed the Cyprus problem with Merkel
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (03.02.17) reports that Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has stated that the sides in Cyprus should be more patient stressing the need to make the necessary mutual sacrifices.
Speaking during a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Yildirim claimed also the following: “The solution of the Cyprus problem is our biggest desire. A united Cyprus, a fair Cyprus of two federations will be by its very nature a solution that not only Europe but also Turkey and Greece wish for. The sides should be more patient and should make the necessary mutual sacrifices”, Yildirim said.
Also speaking, Merkel said that she discussed with Yildirim the Cyprus problem and stressed the need for the problem to yield a result. “This is a very important issue for Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and the whole EU”, she added.
Meanwhile, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (03.02.17) reports that Y?ld?r?m stated during the joint press conference with Merkel that it is not deliberate if Turkey makes some mistakes when going after the hundreds of thousands of people suspected of links to the Gulen Movement under the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused of orchestrating the July 2016 failed coup attempt,
Yildirim said also that Turkey would not act in motivation of revenge while implementing its post-coup security.
Y?ld?r?m also said that Ankara needed more support from Berlin in fight with the Fethullahist Terror Organization, warning that terror organizations inside European countries might become a threat for all of Europe in the future.
In this sense, he underlined that the security of Europe was passing through Turkey both in terms of immigration and terror, acting as “a preventive country.” The Turkish Premier also praised Germany’s contribution in fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group, while noting that it was common responsibility to clear terror organizations in the region.
In addition, Merkel stressed that Berlin was taking action against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a terror organization and that the interior ministries of both countries would continue to be in cooperation on that issue.
She also said that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to be making the fight against international terrorism a top priority, adding that there was a lot of continuity between the old and new U.S. governments in this regard.