Turkey is the last country entitled to lecture others on peace and international stability at a time when it is flagrantly violating international law, Defence Minister, Vasilis Palmas, said on Sunday.
In statements after the national memorial service in Pachyammos for those who fell in the 1964 Tylliria battles, and asked about Turkey’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and whether it was expected to affect Cyprus, Palmas said that, just as the Republic of Cyprus, as an independent state and member of the international community, concludes bilateral, trilateral and other agreements with friendly or allied countries, Turkey is also seeking to establish relations and strengthen its capabilities as a member of the international community.
He noted at the same time the fact that Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had stressed that the agreement signed was a defence agreement and that other countries could also join it.
‘What I want to emphasise is that Turkey has been illegally maintaining occupation troops in Cyprus for 52 years,’ Palmas said.
‘Since Turkey itself is flagrantly violating international law, it is the last country entitled to lecture any other state on peace and international stability,’ he added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.