Turkish Foreign Ministry: “We strongly condemn the statement made by Greek Foreign Minister Kotzias”

In a written statement the Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned statements made by the Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias calling for the removal of the system of guarantees in Cyprus and the withdrawal of the Turkish Armed Forces from the island. The statement is as the following:

“In the statement delivered by the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on 20 July 2016 in reference to the coup attempt in Turkey, it was claimed that the elimination of the guarantee system on the Island and the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the Island were necessary for the settlement of the Cyprus issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey responded by a press release on the same day stating that in the aftermath of the heinous coup attempt, Turkey expects Greece to abstain from such unfortunate statements aiming to take advantage of the present situation and to act in line within a spirit of friendly and neighbourly relations, as well as democratic solidarity.

We observe with dismay that Greek Foreign Minister Kotzias maintains his unfortunate approach in his statement published on the web page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece on 2 August 2016.

On this occasion, we deem it necessary to reiterate that Greece actually contributed to the destruction of the Partnership State in 1963, and to the attempted coup on the Island in 1974 by the Greek Junta. It was thanks to Turkey’s exercise of her right to intervene emanating from the system of Guarantees that rendered the mentioned attempt unsuccessful.

We expect from the Guarantor State Greece to adopt a constructive and realistic approach during this period in which the Turkish nation valiantly fought for democracy by repelling the attempted coup, and in which the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus issue are gaining pace.”