TRNC, Turkey slam ‘Cyclops’ deal
FM: US move will only ‘embolden’ the Greek Cypriot side
THE TRNC and Turkey have slammed a deal signed between the US and the Greek Cypriot administration to create a new “Cyclops” training centre on the island.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that the move, announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit to South Cyprus last Saturday, would only serve to “embolden” the Greek Cypriot side, which is “constantly taking steps” to increase tensions.
He called on the US to “return to its traditional position” on the Cyprus issue and “maintain its impartiality”.
In Ankara Hami Aksoy, spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said in response to a question from a reporter that the “memorandum of understanding (MoU)” signed between the Greek Cypriots and the United States “disregards the Turkish Cypriot side”.
“This MoU will not serve peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and will damage the settlement of the Cyprus issue,” Mr Hami said.
Referring to the decision by the US earlier this month to partially lift an embargo on the sale of “non-lethal” military equipment and services to South Cyprus, Mr Aksoy continued: “The recent steps taken by the US, by lifting the arms embargo . . . and providing [a] military training programme (IMET) to the Greek Cypriot side, disrupts the balance between the two peoples on the island and increases the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“It is remarkable in this respect that [Mr] Pompeo, contrary to their usual practice, did not meet with the Turkish Cypriot side during his visit to the island.
“It is obvious that these steps taken in total exclusion of the Turkish Cypriots, who have equal rights with the Greek Cypriots on the island,
will lead to further hardening of the Greek Cypriot intransigence and thus will further discourage the Greek Cypriot side to take a reconciliatory position on the solution of any problem.
“We urge the US to return to its impartial policy that it has traditionally maintained in the island of Cyprus and to contribute to the efforts towards the settlement of the Cyprus issue.”
Mr Pompeo, whose trip to South Cyprus came hot on the heels of a visit to the South by his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said that he had a “great meeting” with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
“Our conversations reflected a robust, growing diplomatic, security, and economic partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of Cyprus,” Mr Pompeo said at a press conference following the meeting.
“We’re proud to cultivate ties with nations that share our values. I daresay that our relationship has never been better, and I am proud of that . . .
“Today the [Greek
Cypriot] foreign minister and I just signed an MoU to create a new training centre to be funded by the United States and built here in Cyprus.
“It will provide expertise for the rest of the region on border security and non-proliferation. It will be known as the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security, or Cyclops. Well done, very clever.”
Mr Pompeo said that “security cooperation matters all the more” due to countries “which don’t share our values” and which are “trying to obtain new footholds in the region”.
“To that end, I raised the United States’ concern over Russia’s money-laundering activities and its regular port calls here,” Mr Pompeo continued.
“We know that all the Russian military vessels that stop in [Greek] Cypriot ports are not conducting humanitarian missions in Syria — we asked Cyprus and [Mr Anastasiades] to consider our concerns.”
Mr Pompeo added that US President Donald Trump had spoken to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the “challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean related to energy exploration and development”.
“Countries in the region need to resolve disagreements — including on security and energy, resource and maritime issues — diplomatically and peacefully,” Mr Pompeo said.
“Increased military tensions help no-one but adversaries who would like to see division in transatlantic unity.
“Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean has an ability to bring states together. Regional cooperation is absolutely necessary for durable energy security, the creation of new markets, and economic prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Mr Pompeo said the US was “deeply concerned” with Turkey’s offshore energy exploration operations in areas over which Greece and the Greek Cypriots “assert jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
“The Republic of Cyprus has the right to exploit its natural resources, including the right to hydrocarbons found in its territorial sea and its economic – exclusive economic zone,” he said
“We also believe that the resources of Cyprus should be shared equitably among the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
“Finally, the United States continues to support a comprehensive settlement to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region.”