The Turkish Ministry of Defence has issued a written statement regarding ongoing tensions between the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces (GKK).

In the statement on Thursday, the Turkish Defence Ministry said that the United Nations Peacekeeping Force has recently engaged in behaviour and actions that is harming the principle of neutrality it is supposed to protect carefully in Cyprus.

The Turkish Ministry of Defence on Thursday criticized the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus regarding its actions concerning recent incidents of confrontation along the TRNC border with Cyprus Turkish Security Forces.

It said that UNFICYP has recently been engaged in behaviour and action that is harming the principle of neutrality it is supposed to protect carefully in Cyprus.

The ministry drew attention to the latest incident in which a Turkish Cypriot soldier carrying out work to clear the area along the buffer zone in Lefkoşa of vegetation was punched by a UN peacekeeper.

It noted that the cleaning responsibility of the street where the incident took place belongs to the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces, within the scope of the “Demilitarization Agreement” made between the TRNC, the Greek Cypriot Administration, and the UN in 1989.

“Following the incident, the Acting Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force apologized and stated that he would take the necessary steps after a detailed investigation was launched. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded very strongly to the incident, claiming that the UN Peacekeeping Force was not maintaining its neutrality and was exhibiting discriminatory behaviour towards the Turkish Cypriots. It is assessed that the disproportionate reaction of the UN Peacekeeping Force elements on Burhan Tan Street, at a time when the Pile Road Project is going through a sensitive period, could be an attempt to appear sympathetic to the Greek Cypriot side and to put the Turkish side in a difficult position,” the statement read.