Türkiye warns Southern Cyprus over military buildup and maritime agreements
Omer Celik, the General Vice Chairman and Spokesman for Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), delivered a sharp critique of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) on Tuesday, accusing it of attempting to turn the Greek Cypriot region into military bases for "certain countries."
Speaking at a press conference following the Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, Celik warned that such actions were "futile efforts."
Celik argued that the GCASC's current activities represent a shift in the region's character.
"We see the activities of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. Recently, they are trying to turn the Greek side, which is a region where Greeks live, into military bases and headquarters of certain countries," Celik stated. "These are futile efforts."
The ruling party spokesman also strongly condemned the GCASC’s recent exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreements, specifically highlighting a deal made with Lebanon.
Celik declared the agreement between the Greek Cypriot administration and Lebanon to be "wholly unlawful" and equated the GCASC’s actions to a violation of sovereignty.
"What the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus is doing is completely an occupation. Nothing else. This is an attempt to usurp the sovereignty rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)," Celik emphasized.
He added a firm warning regarding the Eastern Mediterranean disputes: "Any approach that attempts to erase the Turkish Cyprus, that attempts to ignore Türkiye, will have no future here."
Celik noted that the EEZ agreement has generated significant debate within Lebanese domestic politics because it allegedly resulted in a "significant loss" of Lebanon’s actual maritime jurisdiction areas.
The spokesman suggested that some commentators believe the Greek Cypriot administration may be attempting to exploit Lebanon’s need for the €1 billion ($1.16 billion) European Union aid package to secure the disputed EEZ agreement. (ILKHA)
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