US arms embargo waiver extension ‘a clear message’, Christodoulides says

The United States government’s decision to extend the waiver of its arms embargo on Cyprus for another year constitutes “a clear message regarding the relations between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus”, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday. Those relations, he added, are “constantly being strengthened, particularly in the fields of defence and security”. “Beyond what has been announced by the United States, many other programmes are underway, programmes concerning the modernisation of the Republic of Cyprus’ infrastructure,” he said, before adding that on this front, he was “referring specifically to the Andreas Papandreou airbase” in Paphos. He added that “talks are also ongoing with the United States regarding the procurement of defence equipment”, before also making reference to the fact that Leonidas Pheraiou had in May become the first Cypriot national to enrol at the US naval academy. Potential upgrades to the airbase in Paphos have been in the pipeline for a number of years, with Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas having said last year that he expects the renovations to cost between €10 million and €14m, “depending on the outcome of the recommendations and proposals which will be made”. Military ties between Cyprus and the US have been strengthened in recent years, with the US having authorised Cyprus to buy military hardware directly from the country’s government after joining three programmes run by the country’s department of defence. The country was incorporated into the US defence security cooperation agency’s foreign military sales (FMS) programme, its excess defence articles (EDA) programme and will be allocated resources under the US’ ‘Title 10’ security assistance provisions. It is the inclusion into the FMS programme which will allow the government to purchase military hardware directly from the US government, with the country previously having only been able to buy US military hardware from private companies. Being able to circumvent private companies will allow the government to buy weapons and other hardware at cheaper prices than before, given that the US government typically acquires its apparatus in bulk and is thus able to sell it on for cheaper prices than what private companies would offer to a military of the National Guard’s size. Decision met with ‘regret’ by Turkish Cypriots However, the decision to extend the arms embargo’s waiver was met with condemnation by the Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign ministry’, which said that “we deeply regret this decision”. “We believe that steps which ignore the realities on the island and in the region, disregard the Turkish Cypriot people, and could trigger arms races should be avoided,” it said. It added that “in this critical period, when serious conflicts and sensitive developments are taking place in our region and particularly in the Middle East, it is of great importance to take steps which take into account the sensitive balances in the eastern Mediterranean and contribute to the environment of peace and tranquillity in the region”. “We invite all relevant international actors to contribute to the peace and stability of the eastern Mediterranean and to pursue a fair and balanced policy by recognising the reality that there are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island,” it said. It added that “the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as always, will continue to resolutely take all necessary steps to protect the security and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people in unshakable cooperation and solidarity with the motherland, the Republic of Turkey”. Turkey’s foreign ministry, too, said that it shares “the views expressed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on this issue”. “At a time when the Greek Cypriot side is increasing its pressure on the Turkish Cypriot people, the co-owners of the island, in all areas, and is undermining regional stability through its intensive armament activities, we emphasise once again that steps which will further erode trust between the two sides on the island should be avoided,” it said. It added that it will “defend the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people while safeguarding their security under all circumstances”, and that it will also “resolutely continue its efforts to ensure that the TRNC takes its rightful place in the international community”.