Minister praises Unficyp actions in Pyla

Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas on Friday said he was satisfied with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp)’ intervention in Pyla this week, saying the force had taken measures to prevent further provocations.

Speaking on CyBC radio, Palmas hailed Unficyp’s reaction to the incident, stressing the need for a “firm and consistent stance” to ensure order in the buffer zone as what he described as a “prerequisite” towards a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Responding to comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Thursday said that the presence of foreign forces in the region should not be permanent, he pointed to the presence of Turkish troops in the north, saying that Erdogan “cannot raise the issue of permanence” as long as this is the case.

Concluding, Palmas emphasised Cyprus’ right to develop military cooperation with other states, whether in the context of exercises or for reasons of regional presence and security.

Palmas’ comments come days after a line of Turkish tanks was spotted in the north, close to the buffer zone village of Pyla near the British Dhekelia base, prompting an intervention by the peacekeeping forces.

The UN responded to the incident by deploying vehicles as a precaution, but did not take further action as the tanks were located “north of the northern ceasefire line” at all times.

The incident was later reported to the United Nations security council.