We have been informed that a Defence Cooperation Agreement has been signed between France and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.

Following the publication of news in the Greek Cypriot press regarding this issue last July, in our demarches with the French authorities, we drew their attention to the fact that such an agreement would be against the 1960 Treaties; would constitute a threat to the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean; and would also adversely affect efforts for a comprehensive settlement under the UN. In this context, we asked the French authorities to refrain from taking such a step which is closely related to Turkey’s rights and interests.

Turkey would like to emphasize once again the following:

- The fragile balance established by the 1960 Treaties in the Island of Cyprus and in Eastern Mediterranean is safeguarded by the rights of Guarantor countries.

- The said Defence Cooperation Agreement is against the 1960 Treaties on Cyprus.

- Signing of a bilateral military agreement between France and the Greek Cypriot Administration is a cause of concern.

- The Greek Cypriot Administration is neither entitled nor authorized to sign an agreement of this nature. We would like to recall that the Greek Cypriot Administration does not represent the Turkish Cypriots or the Island as a whole and that it does not have the right to act on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots or the whole Island.

- Moreover, this agreement runs counter to the framework and the parameters of a settlement under the UN.

- This Agreement will further reinforce the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriot side and therefore will seriously damage the efforts for a comprehensive settlement.

- The said Agreement is null and void both for Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

- The Greek Cypriot Administration which tries to expand the Cyprus problem to the Eastern Mediterranean by its recent attitude and actions, continues to be a source of instability in the Region.