FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: ““ARGONAFTIS” MILITARY EXERCISE WILL
RAISE THE TENSION”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Turgay Avcý has criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for holding the
joint ‘Argonaftis’ military exercise with France, describing the situation
as absolutely unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Prime Ministry and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Avcý accused the Greek Cypriot administration
of transgressing the sovereignty rights of the TRNC under the guise of a
search and rescue exercise.
He said the military exercise only served to raise
tensions on the island and the region, adding that it has a negative impact
on the ongoing negotiations process.
Reminding that the so-called Republic of Cyprus had
handed over the responsibility of search and rescue operations to the UK as
part of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, Avcý said that the Greek Cypriot
administration has violated international law by changing the provisions of
this agreement without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Stating that the Turkish Cypriot side expected the Greek
Cypriot administration to respond to the constructive steps taken by the
Turkish Cypriot side with similar steps, the Foreign Minister complained
that the Greek Cypriot administration was insisting on continuing its stance
of raising tensions and destabilizing the island.
He said that the developments that have taken place after the 21st
of March agreement between the two leaders on the island was an indication
of this.
The Foreign Minister called on the Greek Cypriot
administration to conform to international agreements and to refrain from
such actions that will have a damaging effect on the prevailing atmosphere
of trust between the two sides.
