Nicosia: The Republic of Cyprus has the capabilities to defend its territory against air and missile threats, Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas said on Wednesday responding to questions about the arrival of an Israeli anti-aircraft system.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Palmas addressed Turkish reactions to the installation of the Israeli air defence system in Cyprus, labeling these reactions as hypocritical. He highlighted the longstanding presence of 40,000 Turkish troops in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, emphasizing Cyprus’s right to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The Minister commented on reports regarding NATO’s pressure on EU countries to involve Turkey in the European SAFE program. Palmas acknowledged the positions of the President of the European Council Antonio Costa and noted that Turkey’s NATO membership complicates the issue, as many EU countries are also NATO members with cooperative ties to Turkey.
Palmas reiterated Cyprus’s stance, shared by Greece, at EU Defence Councils, supporting third-country participation in programs only if it poses no threat to EU member states. He recalled Turkey’s 51-year history as an occupying force in Cyprus and its ongoing threats in the Aegean Sea.
Despite acknowledging challenges for Turkey’s participation in the SAFE Regulation program, Palmas admitted the existence of loopholes that might allow indirect involvement. Cyprus remains divided since Turkey’s 1974 invasion, with UN-led peace talks yet to reach a resolution, the latest being inconclusive in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland.