President Ersin Tatar has said that the establishment of a French military base in the Greek Cypriot Administration and the ongoing sales of arms by the US constitute a clear and explicit violation of the founding agreements of Cyprus.

“The violation of the founding, alliance, and guarantee agreements signed in 1960 by Cyprus also brings into question the sovereign British bases on the island,” Tatar said.

In an interview with the Anadolu News Agency, President Tatar said that plans by France to establish a naval base in Larnaca, South Cyprus as well as the sale of US military equipment to Greek Cypriots was a clear and explicit violation of the founding agreements of the 1960 Cyprus Republic.

Tatar reminded that the Greek Cypriot side had expressed its commitment to the three agreements under the titles of “establishment, alliance, and guarantees,” which were signed by Cyprus, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and Greece in 1960, in order to establish the “Republic of Cyprus” and secure international legitimacy, on every platform.

The president pointed out that France or any other state could not establish a base or carry out arms shipments to the island without the approval of Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and Greece.

“The Greek Cypriot Administration still claims to be the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ and defends the validity of the founding agreements. Then it is impossible for France to come and establish a base in the South on the legitimate grounds of this agreement. Legally speaking, France should not and cannot establish a military base in the south,” Tatar said.

“We on the other hand are committed to maintaining, continuing and preserving stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

He argued that negotiations for the establishment of such a naval base without the approval of Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriot people was wrong and that he believed that both countries will act more cautiously in this regard.

Tatar also stated that the legality of the two sovereign British bases on the island will also be brought to question if the founding, alliance, and guarantee agreements of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, which are also international agreements, are violated in any way.

“Such a violation of these agreements also puts the United Kingdom’s position here in a troubled state,” the president said.