Cyprus – The United States is lifting the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus, “he said. Turkey and Northern Cyprus reacted:” Appropriate measures will be taken. “

“Cyprus is our key partner in the eastern Mediterranean,” said ompeo.

The United States announced that it will lift the 33-year arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus and increase security cooperation. The administration of Turkey and Northern Cyprus has reacted to the decision.

“The Republic of Cyprus is our key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean. I am pleased to announce that we will deepen our security cooperation. In the next fiscal year, we will lift restrictions on the sale of non-lethal defense supplies and services imposed on the Republic of Cyprus. “United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a message on his Twitter account on Tuesday. .

In a written statement made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Morgan Ortagus, it was stated that Pompeo had met with Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades and was informed of the decision. In the statement, it was noted that restrictions on the export, shipment and import of non-lethal weapons, which are under the control of International Traffic in the Arms Regulations for fiscal year 2021, were temporarily lifted.

The statement expressed Pompeo’s support for a comprehensive bi-communal and bi-zone solution for the benefit of the island of Cyprus, all Cypriots and the region.

Vice President Fuat Oktay criticized the US decision with the words “The lifting of the arms embargo in the Greek part of southern Cyprus by the United States is the repetition of the mistakes of Europe on the island.”

In a statement on Twitter Oktay, “the region will increase the risk of confrontation against approaches such as Turkey, the TRNC and the security and peace of the Turkish Cypriot people, and we will continue to take measures to ensure the well-being. Turkey and the TRNC in the region are aware of the games that are played against him. As a nation, He will break these games together with determination and in an intertwined state, they will walk together into the future, and He will not spare those who are part of these games. “

External relationships: The corresponding steps will be taken

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also reacted to the US decision with a written statement.

In the ministry’s statement, it was stated that the decision “ignores the equality and balance between the two peoples of the island and will negatively affect efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.”

The following statements were included in the statement of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“At a time when efforts are being made to reduce tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, the signing of the United States of a decision that poisons the atmosphere of peace and stability in the region is incompatible with the spirit of alliance.

“We hope that the United States will reconsider this decision and support existing efforts to establish peace and stability in the region.

“Otherwise, Turkey, as a guarantor country, to fulfill the legal and historical responsibility of the Turkish Cypriot people necessary to be able to guarantee the security of Kabul, will take decisive measures.”

Washington restricted the transfer of arms to Cyprus in 1987 to help the island’s unification efforts and prevent the arms race.

Karara, only Turkey recognizes it as a separate state in northern Cyprus reacted to the management. The President of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa Akıncı, had a phone call with the US Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus, Judith Gail Garber.

Garber said the decision was passed on to Greek leader Anastasiades and that he wanted to inform Northern Cyprus about the decision. Akıncı also stated that his decision was not a step in the right direction.

Akıncı told Garber that the US decision did not promote a comprehensive solution in Cyprus and would not serve for peace, but would “help the Greek side to stay off the negotiating table.”

Akıncı stated that it is necessary not to contribute to the armament efforts in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, but to help dialogue and reconciliation.

North Cyprus Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, “the United States condemns, I immediately invite you to come back from this mistake. However, everyone should know that Turkey will not renounce the rights of TRNC Never that it supports. Do this so as not to increase the tension, see the truth and get to the path of peace, “it was reported.

“It is a disappointment in terms of stability and peace in the region. The continued patting of the Greek Cypriot political leaders in this way will unfortunately help the Eastern Mediterranean region to be more insistent in its one-sided attitude towards the usurpation of our rights.” said Kudret Özersay, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Northern Cyprus.

The leader of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades, announced that they welcomed the decision on his Twitter account after his phone call with Pompeo.

Anastasiades said their concern about the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean was also expressed in the phone call and that they discussed the importance of easing tension.

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez affirmed that the US decision emphasizes the importance of relations with Cyprus, which he described as “a reliable strategic partner for our country.”

In his written statement, Menendez said: “It is in our national security interest to remove these historic decades of restrictions and to deepen our security relations with the Republic of Cyprus.”

United States Congress in December 2019 he had decided

The United States Congress also decided to lift the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus in December 2019. Defense budgets from the House of Representatives and later the Senate supported lifting the embargo under the bill.

In the same period, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted in a written statement to this decision, saying: “It will not result in anything other than disrupting settlement efforts on the island and causing a dangerous escalation.”