Countries withdraw from Turkish military exercise after Cyprus complaint

Cyprus has taken the necessary steps at all levels, the foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday after Turkish Cypriots took part in the Turkish Phoenix of Anatolia international military exercise.

It said in coordination with the president’s diplomatic office and the defence ministry, it had “taken the necessary steps at all levels”.

Other countries taking part in the exercise – including Spain, Poland and Qatar – did not know in advance that officers representing the north would be taking part in the exercise.

“As a result of the above actions, Spain and Poland informed the Republic of Cyprus that they are withdrawing from the exercise immediately,” the ministry said.

The exercise hosted by Turkey, “systematically and unilaterally tries to include in this type of activities the illegal separatist entity in the occupied areas”, the foreign ministry said.

The annual exercise has been carried out in Konya, Turkey since 2009 with the aim of developing survival and evasion procedures and increasing pilots’ and ground personnel’s experience in joint operations.