TRNC Prime Minister Üstel to GCA: Stop endangering the island with military agreements

Criticism continues from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) regarding the unilateral military agreements made by Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) leader Nikos Christodoulides with foreign states, primarily France. Following the announcement that a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) would be signed between France and the GCA in June, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel intensified his criticism, emphasizing that the Greek Cypriot side is far from accepting the political and legal realities on the island, stating, "Stop endangering the island with military agreements and taking steps you cannot handle."

Responding to Christodoulides' statement, "I am the President of the 'Republic of Cyprus,' it is time for everyone to understand this. We are a European Union (EU) member state, we are a United Nations (UN) member state, and we will continue to sign agreements," Üstel stated that this approach is a clear expression of the mentality that continues to ignore the founding partnership rights and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Reminding that the Republic of Cyprus, established in 1960, was founded on the basis of the equal partnership of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people, Üstel stated that this partnership was guaranteed by the Treaty of Guarantee, the Treaty of Alliance, and constitutional arrangements. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side effectively eliminated this partnership order in 1963 by forcibly excluding the Turkish Cypriot people from state institutions, usurping and occupying the order, and subsequently began acting as if it were the sole legitimate authority.

"Do not drag the island into the center of conflicts"

Üstel stated that the structure Christodoulides claims to represent is one that has lost its founding partnership character of the Republic of Cyprus, and that acting with the mindset of "I will make any agreement I want with any country I want" lacks legal basis.

Pointing out that recent defense agreements, particularly with France, initiatives to increase foreign military presence, and military cooperation developed with various actors, primarily Israel, carry the risk of turning the GCA into a military base and armament center in the Eastern Mediterranean, Üstel emphasized that this threatens not only the Greek Cypriot administration but the security of the entire island and the whole region. Stating that such steps are an extremely irresponsible approach at a time when conflicts in the Middle East are deepening, Üstel expressed that these policies expose not only the Greek Cypriot people but also the Turkish people to serious security risks.

Reiterating the emphasis on two separate peoples and two separate states, Üstel expressed that it is unacceptable for a mindset that ignores the rights and laws of the Turkish Cypriot people to claim to represent the entire island. Renewing his call to the Greek Cypriot leadership, Üstel said, "Stop turning the island into an area of interest for foreign military powers. Do not drag the island into the center of conflicts."

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot people have lived in peace and tranquility for over 50 years under the effective and de facto guarantee of the Motherland Turkey, Üstel said, "No one will have the power to change this reality."