With Ankara's gaze focused on Cyprus in recent months, Turkish provocativeness continued on Thursday with Turkish Defence Ministry spokesman Zeki Akturk referring to "massacres" of Turkish Cypriots in the 1960s by the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters , which he described as a terrorist organization!
"Our Turkish Armed Forces, which are taking all necessary measures for the survival of our state and the peace and security of our citizens, are successfully serving in Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Libya, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Somalia and many other geographies. It continues to support the just causes of the countries of brothers, friends and allies. On this occasion, we once again condemn the Bloody Christmas, in which our Turkish Cypriot brothers were brutally murdered by the Greek Cypriot terrorist organization National Organization of Cypriot Fighters , 60 years ago today. We condemn those who commit crimes against humanity through barbaric and brutal murders," said Akturk, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry taking the "pass" and posting on X to refer to the events of the 60s as they have been recorded in Turkish history....: "60 years ago today, hundreds of Turkish Cypriot civilians were killed as a result of the massacres that went down in history as "Bloody Christmas", committed by the Greek Cypriot terrorist organization National Organization of Cypriot Fighters . With respect and mercy we honor all our martyrs."
Meanwhile, in his statements to journalists, on the sidelines of his visit to the Michael Kailis camp, on the occasion of the holidays, and in response to a reporter's remark that the Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated his claim for two states, while we are waiting for the appointment of a UN Secretary General envoy, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Christodoulides said: "Personally, I did not expect anything different from Mr Tatar with the statements he continues to make.
What I have to say to both Mr. Tatar and Mr. Erdogan, with full respect to the Turkish Cypriot leader - that is where the decisions, the development of the negotiations will be judged - is that there can be no other solution than the agreed framework. Certainly from our side we are not going to discuss anything else. We are waiting for the official announcement from the UN Secretary-General. We are in contact with the UN Secretariat. I want to repeat what I said earlier, it is crucial. I think that the UN understands, from the discussions that we have had, the need for the personal envoy to come and stay in Cyprus for as long as necessary, so that we can work towards the resumption of the talks.
Asked if there is any news on the situation in the buffer zone, President Christodoulides said: "There is a systematic effort to challenge the status of the buffer zone and it was one of the issues we discussed yesterday at the meeting in the presence of the Chief of the National Guard. We evaluated the measures we have already taken and the monitoring of the situation as it takes shape is daily, and our own moves are adjusted accordingly."
Finally, asked to give his message to the people regarding the issue of the buffer zone, the President said: "The priority of all the decisions we take - I myself went to St. Dometius - is the safety of the people and we are doing everything necessary to ensure that there is no any feeling of insecurity on the part of the residents living in areas adjacent to the buffer zone."
Asked about the content of the measures being taken by the Government, the President said: "If you visit the areas and talk to the residents, they will give you an answer. I myself was in St. Dometius and I am sure if you visit the areas, from the residents themselves, you will hear."
Following his remarks, the President visited the Barsac Outpost/Reserve at the Far Village Island, where he wished the soldiers a Happy Christmas and New Year on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
