Turkish Vice President Fuad Aktay said that the United States' decision to lift the arms embargo on Cyprus would increase the risk of a clash in the region, at a time when Ankara continues naval military exercises with live ammunition off the coast of the eastern Mediterranean.
The Turkish Vice President described - in a tweet on Twitter - the US decision as a repeat of the mistakes that Europe made on the island of Cyprus.
He stressed that Turkey will continue to take steps to guarantee the security, stability and well-being of Turkish Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriots, against such positions that increase the risk of clash in the region.
Aktay stressed that Turkey and the Republic of Northern Cyprus are aware of the games being hatched against them in the region.
He stressed that the two countries (Turkey and Northern Cyprus) will spoil these games with firmness and synergy, and will move together into the future, and will not forgive everyone who is part of these games.
For its part, the Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized the United States ’decision to lift the arms embargo on the Greek side of Cyprus.
A ministry statement said that the decision poisoned the atmosphere of peace and stability in the region, and that it was contrary to the spirit of the alliance between the two countries, and indicated that it would take the necessary steps to respond to the US decision.
The Republic of Cyprus is a key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean.
I am pleased to announce that we are deepening our security cooperation.
We will waive restrictions on the sale of non-lethal defense articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus for the coming fiscal year.
- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 1, 2020
Lifting US restrictions
And US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the Republic of Cyprus as a major partner of the United States in the eastern Mediterranean.
And he said - in a tweet on Twitter - that he is working to deepen security cooperation with it.
He indicated that his country has lifted restrictions imposed on the sale of non-lethal defense goods and services to Cyprus for the next fiscal year.
For its part, Turkey continues naval military exercises with live ammunition off the coast of the city of Iskenderun on the eastern Mediterranean.
It also continues to conduct naval maneuvers in another region off the coast of the eastern Mediterranean, which began on August 29 and will last for two weeks.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Greece was taking provocative steps in the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean, with the support of European countries.
He added that the island of Meiss - which is 580 km away from Greece - is only two km away from Antalya, and its area is 10 square kilometers, and because of this island Greece is claiming 40,000 square kilometers of water.
Cavusoglu stressed - during a press conference with his Algerian counterpart on Tuesday in Ankara - that his country will not allow anyone to infringe on its rights, and that it does not infringe on anyone's rights.