Ankara on Wednesday called on the defense minister of Greece to “desist from trying to undermine the joint stance set forth by the leaders of the two countries, which aims to advance the relations between Türkiye and Greece in a constructive manner.”

The Turkish National Defense Ministry in a statement on X strongly condemned Nikos Dendias’ remarks, saying that his remarks are “targeting the Turkish Cypriots and the army of the heroic Turkish people with full of lies and slander.”

“The heroic Turkish army took action in accordance with Türkiye’s guarantor rights under international agreements and saved the Turkish Cypriot people, who were subjected to all kinds of cruelty by the Greek Cypriot side between 1963-1974, from a genocide attempt,” the ministry added.

Stressing that there has been no bloodshed on the island since 1974, thanks to the presence of the Turkish army, it highlighted that the Turkish army will continue to be the guarantee of peace and tranquility on the island “tomorrow as it was yesterday and today.”

“Mr. Dendias’ endeavors to pursue a political career by causing trouble between Turkish and Greek peoples will not avail,” the ministry added.