The Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Tuesday issued a statement concerning the latest confrontation between troops from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces along the green line.

A soldier from the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces was injured after being physically attacked by a UN peacekeeper.

Describing the actions of the UN Peacekeepers as unacceptable, Ertuğruloğlu stressed, “When necessary, we will express our reaction. Rest assured this incident won’t be overlooked.”

Expressing the TRNC’s reaction to the incident that took place on Monday when UN Peacekeepers tried to prevent troops from the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces using machinery to clear vegetation along the Burhan Tan street on the TRNC border, Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu said that the UN peacekeepers had acted out in response to earlier scuffles that broke out during attempts to prevent construction work on the Pile-Yiğitler Road.

He said that the UN had not accepted what had happened and therefore adopted an aggressive stance.

Ertuğruloğlu who described the UN peacekeepers action as unacceptable said that the Turkish Cypriot side will give its necessary response. “Everyone can rest assured, we will not let this slide,” he said.