The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the agreement between the US and the Greek Cypriot Administration which “encourages the arming of the Greek Cypriot side”, it says Anadolu Agency.
“We condemn the signing of an agreement between the National Guard of the State of New Jersey and the Ministry of Defense of the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) within the framework of the State Partnership Program of the National Guard Bureau, under the scope of the Department of the United States. Defence, after the GCA was included in this program last October,” the ministry said in a statement.
Turkiye supports the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on this issue, he said.
“The United States upset the balance on the island of Cyprus to the detriment of Turkish Cypriots in 2022 by lifting an arms embargo on the GCA. These last steps are encouraging the arming of the Greek Cypriot side as well.
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“We ask the United States to reconsider this policy, which does not serve the stability of the region in any way, and to contribute to a just, permanent and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue,” the statement read.
The ministry stressed that Turkiye, “as a homeland and guarantor, will not allow any harm to the Turkish Cypriots,” adding that Ankara will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the Turkish Cypriot people.
