Turkish Foreign Ministry releases statement on fifth anniversary of Crimea annexation
Ukrinform
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey has released the official statement on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, reiterating the support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation, in violation of international law, based on an illegitimate referendum held five years ago today (16 March). On this occasion, we reiterate that we do not recognize the de-facto situation caused by this act and reaffirm our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the statement reads.
As noted, the situation of Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea, continues to be a priority for Turkey. “We will continue to support Crimean Tatars to live in peace and safely in their historic homeland, preserving their identity,” the statement says.
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