Arıklı: It's Time for Turkey to Establish Air and Naval Bases in Cyprus

Emphasizing his hope that this issue will be addressed and concluded on the anniversary of the Peace Operation, Erhan Arıklı recalled that the intercommunal negotiations, which have spanned more than half a century, ended in July 2017 when the Greek Cypriots overturned the table at Crans Montana.

Arıklı pointed out that while South Cyprus calls for the resumption of negotiations from where they left off at Crans Montana, it simultaneously engages in armament and enters defense cooperation agreements with various countries, granting some of them air, land, and naval bases on its territory. He highlighted that the establishment of a naval base in the Mari region along the Larnaca coast is the latest move by South Cyprus.

Recalling that it was announced that South Cyprus had agreed with the US and the EU to construct a naval base with Greece and that this claim was not denied, Arıklı said, "From this point on, it is time to establish air and naval bases in the TRNC, in agreement with Turkey. Addressing and concluding this issue on the anniversary of our glorious victory on July 20 is our greatest hope."