President Ersin Tatar strongly condemns the target shooting exercise by a Greek Cypriot minister and deputies – which follows a similar exercise carried out by Greek Cypriot priests
“This new provocative act only serves to further escalate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean”
President Ersin Tatar has strongly condemned the target shooting exercise by a Greek Cypriot minister and deputies – which is further escalating tensions between the two Sides on the island of Cyprus and the region.
Pointing to the fact that this follows a similar shooting exercise by Greek Cypriot priests in February 2022, the President stated that these kind of activities are not serving sustainable peace and stability.
The written statement by President Tatar reads as follows:
“I strongly condemn the target shooting exercise by a Greek Cypriot minister and deputies which follows similar exercises undertaken by Greek Cypriot priests in February 2022. This serves nothing except to further escalate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
The images of the Greek Cypriot Minister of Defence Charalambos Petrides and numerous deputies, who wore military helmets during their visit to the headquarters of the Greek Cypriot National Guard where they practiced target shooting with fully automatic firearms, is an indication of the continuing EOKA aspiration of our neighbours to annex the island of Cyprus with Greece.
It is significant and meaningful that the target shooting exercise was held immediately following the lifting of the arms embargo by the US on South Cyprus which we reiterate will only have negative effects. The continuous provocations by the Greek Cypriot Administration and their continuing armament is regrettably being stepped-up. All these do not contribute to sustainable peace and stability but serves to escalate tension in the eastern Mediterranean. The said exercise will also have adverse affects with regards to the Turkish-Greek balance and hamper the prospects of a settlement.
We are determined to continue with our struggle for the TRNC to take its rightful place in the world as a Turkish state in the eastern Mediterranean and we will persistently defend the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot People in solidarity with and the support of Motherland Türkiye. It should be known that we will not show any tolerance to any mentality or deceitful games that aim to destroy the Turkish Cypriot People or our State.”