Cyprus will not accept Turkish efforts to control the region

Cypriot Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas said on Monday that Cyprus would never accept Turkey’s behaviour to act as a regional policeman and would never give up its rights emanating from international law.

Asked what stance Cyprus would maintain in view of new chapters being opened in Turkey’s EU accession course, in the light of threats by the Turkish National Security Council against Cyprus, Palmas said ”we are evaluating each chapter separately and, depending on the chapter and its content, we determine our stance.”

”However, it is clear that the stance and the behaviour of the National Security Council of Turkey reflect once again the attitude and the expansionist disposition and aspiration of Turkey in the region,” he added.

Palmas pointed out that Turkey is threatening not only Cyprus but also the Kurds in northern Iraq and is trying to become a gendarme in the region.

”We will never settle for such reasoning and such an attitude and we will not give up our rights as these emanate from international law,” he stressed.

Replying to questions, Palmas said ”we judge and evaluate Turkey by its stance and behaviour towards the EU, chapter by chapter, and according to which stance and behaviour it has, we adopt a stance as the Republic of Cyprus.”

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Ankara refuses to recognize the legal government of the Republic of Cyprus.