Dzhemilev: Turkish and Ukrainian cooperation may lead to the de-occupation of Crimea
The national leader of Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, said that Turkey has embarked on economic and military rapprochement with Ukraine. In his opinion, it may help the de-occupation of Crimea. Dzhemilev told Krym.Realli, commenting on the meeting of the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"We are heading towards economic and military rapprochement with Ukraine. It is certainly in our favor and I think in favor for de-occupation of Crimea. Turkey has always followed its national economic interests. Now such processes have changed for the better, from our point of view," Dzhemilev said.
Petro Poroshenko visited Turkey for a two-day official visit (March 9-10, 2016) and met with the representatives of the leadership of the country. On Wednesday, Petro Poroshenko and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a joint declaration on deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.
The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March of 2014 in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. The Kremlin has faced international condemnation for its annexation of the Peninsula, leading many western countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In the United Nations, only Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Syria recognize Crimea as a legitimate federal subject of Russia.