The Republic of Cyprus has no revisionist thoughts or aspirations for regional hegemony, the Foreign Ministry has said, noting that it rejects misleading statements aimed at provoking tension.
In a statement posted on social media in Greek on Monday evening, the Ministry said: “The Republic of Cyprus exercises its foreign policy consistently and functions as a useful member of the international community, as an EU member state and as part of the wider region.
“The Republic of Cyprus has no revisionist thoughts or aspirations for regional hegemony,” it noted, adding that “these concern others who, for their own reasons, attempt to provoke and create impressions in a critical regional period, ignoring the fact that it is Turkey itself that illegally occupies sovereign European territory, with tens of thousands of soldiers in an aggressive posture.”
“Therefore, the recent misleading statements and allegations, which serve the neighbouring country’s ulterior motives and aim to provoke tension, are rejected,” the Ministry concluded.
The post comes after Greece also responded on Monday to remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concerning cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Fidan had argued that cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel “creates more problems and war.”
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country does not accept “advice or explanations from anyone,” rejecting claims that such partnerships contribute to instability in the region.