The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the decision by announcing that the United States of America (USA) lifted the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA). The ministry declared that the decision was unacceptable.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized this decision by announcing that the United States of America (USA) lifted the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA).
The Ministry stressed that it is worrying that the US announced that it had released arms sales to the Greek Cypriot side at a time when the Greek Cypriot side increased its efforts to procure military supplies.
In the written statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that the USA completely lifted the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration with a decision taken yesterday, and this decision was criticized.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement reads as follows:
“The United States of America (USA), which partially lifted the arms sales restriction to the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) for decades in 2020, reiterated the same decision in 2021 and finally, with a new decision taken on September 16, 2022, it completely suspended the arms embargo imposed on the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA). This decision taken by the US Administration at the expense of increasing the tension in the island and the region is unacceptable.
The decision to release all kinds of arms sales to the Greek Cypriot side clearly shows that the armament and military activities of the Greek Cypriot side, which have reached alarming levels, are supported by the US Administration.
In this period, when the Greek Cypriot side signed a sales agreement with France for attack helicopters and increased its efforts to procure missile systems, radar systems and military equipment, it is alarming that the US announced that it released arms sales to the Greek Cypriot side.
It is hard to believe in the sincerity of the US Administration, which, while deciding to arm the Greek Cypriot side, on the one hand, claims that it supports reaching an agreement between the two sides on the island and ensuring stability in the region.
It is clear who is the target of the weapons and military equipment that the US Administration will sell to the Greek Cypriot side.
For this reason, the continuation of the effective and de facto guarantee of the Motherland of Turkey, which is provided by the Guarantee Agreement in order to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the region and the island, cannot be discussed under any circumstances, and it is clear that it is more vital than ever in these circumstances.
On this occasion, it is useful to emphasize once again that we expect all third parties, including the USA, to stop supporting the provocative policies of the Greek Cypriot Administration and to help the two states on the island reach a sustainable agreement on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.”