Parties from both sides denounce Karpas military base plans

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties said Wednesday that the environmentally sensitive Karpas peninsula should not be used for military purposes and expressed concern over the stalemate in the Cyprus problem.

In a joint communiqué, issued by the Embassy of Slovakia, which facilitates meetings between parties, the representatives said “that the Karpas peninsula, just as all other ecologically sensitive areas of Cyprus, should remain to be used for purely environmental and cultural purposes and not as military areas.”

It recently emerged that Turkey planned to create a naval base on the peninsula, after it was ‘granted’ 145 square kilometres of land.

The parties also expressed concern over recent statements and actions that undermined reunification prospects.

“They expressed their disappointment on the existing negative political climate and the lack of common views between the two leaders as regards the restarting of negotiations for the reunification and federal democratic solution of the Cyprus problem.”