In today’s extremely difficult global situation with the war in Ukraine, Turkey is trying to present itself as a peacemaker and a mediator, said on Monday Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides, noting that by adopting a ‘sophisticated neutrality’ and its attitude towards the NATO applications of Finland and Sweden, Turkey has showed that its ultimate goal is to serve its aspirations in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean.
Petrides was speaking during the opening of the restaurant and entertainment hall of the Permanent Non-Commissioned Army Officers School in Trikala, Greece.
He also said that no one can question Turkey’s provocative behaviour and its unilateral actions in the Greek and Cypriot waters, the continuous violation of the national airspace of Greece, the instrumentalisation of human suffering by channeling a large number of immigrants (to the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus and subsequently the government controlled areas) and its illegal actions in the fenced off area of Famagusta, violating every meaning of international law.
He said that as Greeks, we have no other choice but to be constantly on alert, to modernise and maintain at a high level the readiness of the armed forces to be able to face every hostile action and to defend our sovereignty, acting as a factor of stability in eastern Mediterranean.
The Defence Minister also said we are obliged to continue the effort to reunite Cyprus on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the EU, as well as showing good will to resume the dialogue, adding that the Confidence Building Measures proposed by the Cypriot government, aim to help towards this end.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.
Source: Cyprus News Agency