Türkiye 'strongly condemns' inclusion of Greek Cypriot administration in US military partnership program

US move, 2 weeks after lifting arms embargo on Greek Cypriot administration, has no justification, says Turkish Foreign Ministry

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye on Monday strongly condemned the Greek Cypriot administration's inclusion in a US military partnership program.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement said it strongly condemned the Greek Cypriot administration's "inclusion in the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, under the scope of the U.S. Department of Defense."

"From our point of view, the latest move of the U.S., two weeks after lifting the arms embargo on GCA, has no justification," the statement said.

It further noted that the US' latest move is "going beyond disrupting the balance between the two sides on the Island, the U.S. has evidently become partial."

"With such moves, the U.S. is losing its opportunity to play a constructive role for a fair, permanent and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue," it added.

Türkiye also vowed to continue taking "all necessary steps to ensure the security of Turkish Cypriot people," as a guarantor state.

"We support the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) regarding the issue," it added.

Kaynak: