NICOSIA–(AFP)–The breakaway Turkish state on Cyprus blasted Thursday a military cooperation accord between the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government and Armenia as harmful to the Cyprus peace process.
The cooperation pact was signed during a visit by Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian to Greek Cyprus on February 20-25–the foreign and defense ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said in a written statement.
"We strongly condemn the hostile attitude of the Greek Cypriot leadership and urge all parties following the (Cyprus) peace talks to accordingly evaluate this unfortunate development," the ministry said.
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash–whose Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is recognized only by Ankara–and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Glafcos Clerides began face-to-face talks in mid-January in a bid to re-unite the island.
They completed the first stage of the meetings on February 19 and are expected to resume the talks on Friday.