The north’s ‘foreign ministry’ on Thursday called the armaments activities on the Greek-Cypriot side a provocation and a threat to stability on the island, a day before Cyprus was set to close a deal for the purchase of six attack helicopters.
The ‘foreign ministry’ was referring to the recent release of €53 million by Cyprus’ parliament as an advance for the purchase of six Airbus attack helicopters replacing the National Guard’s ageing 11 Russian gunships that will be sold off to Serbia.
“It’s obvious that these military activities are being carried out against the Turkish Cypriot people,” it said in a statement.
The ‘ministry’ included this in a string of activities which Turkish Cypriots perceive as provocative, including the placement of 250 heavy weapon firing positions along the ceasefire line, or supporting the Kurdish PKK and spending millions of euros on weapons and ammunition.
According to daily Politis, the supply of the six Airbus helicopters will take place within a five-year timeframe with the option of acquiring an additional six helicopters. The armaments plan has a ten-year timeline and seeks to ultimately establish a fleet of 12 attack helicopters.
The ‘ministry of foreign affairs’ also went on to accuse the UN Security Council as “a non-credible and impartial institution” – referring to France’s willingness to sell armaments to the Republic of Cyprus and to the lifting of the arms embargo by the United States.
Read more: Cyprus Mail
