What do Turkey’s ruling party, opposition say about Russia-Ukraine crisis?

Click to read the article in Turkish

In a speech late Monday (February 21), Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of Ukraine's separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Later, he ordered the deployment of Russia's troops to "maintain peace" in the breakaway regions. These two developments, amid fears for war, are now also high on the agenda of Turkey's politics.

Ruling parties 'on the side of Ukraine'

The People's Alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) seem to side with Ukraine by being positioned along the lines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the West and against Russia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement late on February 21, said, "We reiterate once again our commitment to the preservation of Ukraine's political unity and territorial integrity and invite all concerned parties to act with common sense and to abide by international law."

Turkey's President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke about the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine during his three-country visit in Africa yesterday (February 22).

Russia's recognition of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine is unacceptable, said Erdoğan yesterday while calling on the parties "to abide by common sense and international law" in the wake of Russia's latest moves, including sending troops to eastern Ukraine.

During his weekly group meeting yesterday, MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli also said that "the political and territorial integrity of Ukraine must definitely be respected." Emphasizing that the MHP "definitely disapproves of a possible war between Russia and Ukraine", he stated:

"We believe that diplomacy and dialogue is the only way out so that peace and stability take root. War is wrong. It means the defeat of humanity. Moreover, we are of the opinion that warmongering countries are never good-intentioned. Temperate, cautious, commonsensical and calm policies are for the benefit of every country. Russia's responsibility is quite weighty in that regard. According to the latest information, talks about a consensus on a diplomatic solution for the Russia-Ukraine crisis have renewed our optimism and hope despite every risk and threat."

Opposition: We don't want a war

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also talked about the crisis at his weekly group meeting yesterday.

"We don't want a war in our region," he said and added:

"Our history tells of the cruelty of war the best. We all know that a war in the region will inflict great harm on Turkey. It has to be the joint request of the entire world to call on the parties to act with commonsense.

"Russia has emerged more powerful than it was in 2014. The prices of natural gas and oil are increasing, which is making things easier for Russia.

"If some people who don't know history and the world open the Montreux Treaty to debate, all of us should know the complaceny this will lead to."

Speaking at the General Assembly of the Parliament, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş also talked about the Russia-Ukraine tension:

"We are greatly concerned about the political and military developments in Eastern Europe. Ukraine and other Eastern European countries should not be a ground where NATO and Russia compete for power and pursue their military expansionist policies. Eastern European peoples are the ones who will come to the greatest harm in case of such a conflict situation."

Danış Beştaş said, "I would like to say that in the face of warmongering, we support all types of peaceful politics and diplomatic efforts."

She called on the government to inform the Parliament about the developments: "We are at a Parliament which represents 90 percent of Turkey's population now. We think the Foreign Minister should come to the Parliament and give information andall groups should analyze the current situation and offer their recommendations in the decision-making process."

CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Engin Altay referred to Russia's recognition of Ukraine's breakaway regions and defined it as "a decision which disregards the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and openly violates international law."

"We definitely don't accept this decision and we condemn it," he said, talking about the CHP's attitude towards the issue.

Altay emphasized that the CHP is a political party that acts in the light of the principle: "Peace at home, peace in the world." He noted that they side with the Charter of the United Nations, which sets it as a principle that "the territorial integrity and borders of all states are inviolable". (AEK/SD)