The Treaty of Lausanne is not a Holy Book: Erdogan Demands Its Revision

• 11.23.2016, 21:19
•  Region,  World

Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AP

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan is unable to accept the reality. He has again remembered about the Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923, which defines the boundaries of modern Turkey. According to the agreement, Turkey refused its claims over other parts of the Ottoman Empire. Erdogan insists it should be reviewed and become a subject of negotiations. Turkish President said "the Treaty of Lausanne is neither holy scripture, nor the holy book, and should be reexamined in light of securing a better deal for Turkey," Protothema  reports, citing Turkish Cumhuriyet.

"We are heirs of a nation that saw its territory expand to 22 million kilometers. Shortly before the Republic was founded, we had 3 million kilometers which kept diminishing until all we had left was 780,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, in the Lausanne Treaty, some of our 3 million kilometers were taken away from us, leaving us with only 780,000. They took land right from under our noses and are proud of it. And they say that we came out of the treaty successfully. How can you call giving your land away success?,"Turkey’s President was upset when speaking about the "Spirit of Turkey’s New Security".

Earlier Erdogan openly stated that "the physical boundaries do not correspond to the borders of Turkey’s heart." He said Turkey cannot remain indifferent to such regions and countries such as Iraq, Syria, Libya, Crimea, Karabakh, Bosnia, Georgia, Ukraine, the Balkans, North Africa and "other brother regions." "When Turkey will lose its independence and lose its future, then we will lose interest towards these territories," the Turkish president said. 

Erdogan spoke about the Treaty of Lausanne in October. But it is noteworthy that Erdogan demands are growing. In October he said "in 1914, our premises consisted of 2.5 million sq/km, now he says they were 3 million. At the same time Erdogan consistently stresses the need to review the treaty. If in October he was expressing his dissatisfaction then now he demands its revision.

By the way, Erdogan tries to justify its military operations in neighboring countries through the problem of the Treaty of Lausanne. "What would happen if Turkey stays away from Syria and elsewhere? Would there be peace and security in those regions?" Erdogan wondered aloud, Greek Reporter reports.  "With the Treaty of Sevres (1920), Turkey was divided in 7-8 pieces. Turkey did not accept that dichotomy that formed today’s border. The debate on the Treaty of Lausanne begins at this point," the Turkish President continued.

Of course, it completely fits within Erdogan's expansionist policy.