Tatar: Southern Cyprus is Endangering the Island
President Tatar warns that Southern Cyprus endangers 50 years of peace by becoming a military logistics base for Israel and Western countries.
President Ersin Tatar criticized Southern Cyprus for becoming a logistics base for Israel and other countries, asserting that this move jeopardizes the island’s 50-year-long peace.
In an interview with an AA correspondent for a series on “West’s Arms Support to Israel,” Tatar expressed his concerns over increased military activity by countries, notably the USA and the UK, in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) following Israel’s attacks on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Tatar highlighted that the Greek Cypriot Administration has entered into agreements with Western countries, primarily the US and the UK, transforming the region into a military hub. He argued that these initiatives, while targeting the Middle East, do not benefit the Greek Cypriots and instead expose them to exploitation by foreign states.
He recalled multiple warnings issued about the rising military presence in the Greek Cypriot Administration and pointed out that historical missteps by this administration have made Cyprus a potential target for major Middle Eastern organizations.
Tatar affirmed that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) consistently collaborates with Türkiye and does not permit its territories to be used for supporting any massacres. He echoed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s statement that “Israel has made Southern Cyprus a logistics base,” expressing shared concerns.
President Tatar emphasized that Cyprus, once plagued by massacres and violence, had turned into a peaceful region following Türkiye’s intervention in 1974. He warned that Southern Cyprus is now endangering this hard-won peace.
“Southern Cyprus is jeopardizing the island’s 50 years of peace. No one has the right to disrupt the continuous peace on this island,” Tatar stated. He criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for making historical mistakes without considering the future and interests of its people, thereby destabilizing regional peace.
Tatar called on the Greek Cypriot administration to avoid policies that threaten Cyprus and create unnecessary risks, urging them to act responsibly towards their own people and the region’s stability.
