Turkey condemns Cyprus-US defence co-operation roadmap

12/9/2024 17:36

        Turkey said it condemned this week's signing of a roadmap to boost two-way defence co-operation between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus.
        The move came amid United Nations efforts to find common ground for the resumption of long-stalled negotiations between the rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the Mediterranean island, which has been divided for decades.
        
        The Turkish foreign ministry said, the U.S. steps, including last June's announcement of the launch of a strategic dialogue with Cyprus, are detrimental to the security of the Turkish Cypriot side of the island.
        
        It said in a statement, "These steps ... undermine the neutral USA position towards the island of Cyprus and make it more difficult to reach a just, lasting and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue. "
        
        On Monday, the United States and the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus signed the co-operation roadmap in Nicosia.
        
        In a joint statement, their defence ministries reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate to tackle international security concerns via the roadmap.