FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI DREW ATTENTION TO GREEK CYPRIOT REARMAMENT

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý stated that the noticeable increase in pace of the Greek Cypriot side’s armament campaign was an indication of its insincere attitude towards a settlement on the island.

Foreign Minister complained that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was in an effort to continue deceiving the international community by falsely expressing his readiness to launch the 8^th July process while on the other hand was raising tensions and rendering the division on the island permanent by strengthening the Greek Cypriot National Guard.

In a written statement issued yesterday (27 December), Foreign Minister Avcý evaluated the latest purchase of TOR-M1 Air Defense Missile systems and Slovakian made 155 mm ZUZANA artillery guns by the Greek Cypriot administration in exchange of transferring S-300 missiles, which have been deployed in Crete after a regional crisis on the island in 1997, to Greek Armed Forces.

The Foreign Minister also accused the Greek Cypriot administration of trying to deceive the international community by hiding the truth about the purchase of new weapons systems which possess the same striking capabilities of S-300 missiles.

Continuing Foreign Minister Avcý pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side totally disregarded all the realities and solution efforts on the island, Avcý said that the Greek Cypriot side’s stance was damaging efforts to find a comprehensive and lasting solution under UN parameters and rendering impossible to build confidence between the two peoples in Cyprus.

Avcý said the signing of new military agreements and purchase of new weapons system by the Greek Cypriot side at a time when efforts to find a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution on the basis of political equality are underway has unveiled the Greek Cypriot administration’s true intentions towards a settlement.

Reminding that the Greek Cypriot side was continuing to hold the record of being the country to allocate the highest amount of money from its budget for rearmament according to population, Avcý said it was obvious that the Greek Cypriot side would not contribute to permanent peace and reconciliation in the island.

Avcý stated the last thing the Eastern Mediterranean needed were new military pacts that would create instability in the region. He added that there was a need to produce policies and approaches which would build confidence in the region.

The Foreign Minister called on the Greek Cypriot administration to abandon its irresponsible and adventuress armament campaign and to support the Turkish Cypriot side’s and international community’s efforts to find a just and lasting comprehensive solution  to the Cyprus problem based on the political equality of the two sides.