Arikli Urges Türkiye to Establish Bases in North Cyprus

Erhan Arıklı calls for a two-state strategy in Cyprus, responding to Southern Cyprus’ military base plans and emphasizing Turkish cooperation

Erhan Arıklı, Chairman of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and Minister of Public Works and Transportation, has evaluated the recent statement by Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Defense for the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC). Palmas announced plans to establish a base for military ships in the Mari (Tatlisu) region of Larnaca.

Arıklı highlighted that the inter-communal talks in Cyprus, which have spanned over half a century, effectively ended when the Greek Cypriots walked away from the table during the Crans Montana discussions in July 2017. He emphasized that the Turkish side must now develop a new strategy based on the principle of two states.

Arıklı noted that while Southern Cyprus is advocating for negotiations to resume from where they left off in Crans Montana, it simultaneously continues to acquire armaments and establish defense cooperation agreements with various states, granting air, land, and sea bases to some of them.

Pointing to the establishment of a naval base in the Mari region on Larnaca’s coast as Southern Cyprus’ latest move, Arıklı stated that an agreement had been reached with the US and the EU for the base to be built with Greece. This claim, he noted, has not been denied.

Arıklı declared, “From this point on, it is time to establish an air and naval base in the TRNC by reaching an agreement with Türkiye. Our greatest wish is for this issue to be addressed and concluded on the anniversary of our glorious victory on July 20.”