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Agence France-Presse

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades welcomed on Saturday a “landmark” decision by Washington to fully lift a decades-old arms embargo, conditional on Nicosia continuing to block Russian warships from its ports.
The US imposed the arms embargo on the entire Cyprus in 1987 in the hope it could encourage its reunification.
The Mediterranean island has been divided between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and a breakaway northern statelet, set up after a Turkish invasion launched in 1974 in response to a coup sponsored by the military junta then ruling Greece.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lifted defence trade restrictions to Cyprus, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
How war in Ukraine could end – with Donbas as the next Northern Cyprus
Anastasiades, leader of the island’s Greek Cypriots, said it was “with great satisfaction” that he welcomed the announcement “on the complete lifting of the US arms embargo” on his country, the most easterly member of the European Union.
“This is a landmark decision, reflecting the burgeoning strategic relationship between the two countries, including in the area of security,” he added.
In contrast, Türkiye on Saturday “strongly condemned” Washington’s move.
“This decision … will negatively affect the efforts to settle the Cyprus issue and will lead to an arms race on the island,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Critics said the embargo was counterproductive, forcing Cyprus to seek other partners, while Türkiye, a Nato member, has stationed tens of thousands of troops in northern Cyprus since its 1974 invasion.

In December 2019, the US Congress voted to lift the arms embargo to allow “non-lethal” military hardware to be exported.
US officials had been concerned that the ban brought Cyprus closer to Russia, with the island in 2015 signing off on an access deal to its ports.
“Cyprus has met the necessary conditions under relevant legislation to allow the approval of exports, re-exports, and transfers of defence articles,” Price said on Friday.
The decision was subject to an annual review, he added, conditional on Cyprus “continuing to cooperate” with Washington, including on “continuing to take the steps necessary to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refuelling and servicing”.
Turkish president calls for ‘two-state’ solution in Cyprus
UN-brokered negotiations aimed at solving the Cyprus problem have repeatedly failed.
The last round, held in Switzerland in 2017, had aimed to secure the island’s reunification in a federation.
Ersin Tatar, leader of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – recognised only by Ankara – also condemned the end to restrictions on US arms.
“With the lifting of the embargo, the Greek Cypriots will obtain weapons of attack,” Tatar told Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber.
“This goes beyond the framework of defence … and will increase tensions.”


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Cyprus welcomes ‘landmark’ US lifting of 1987 arms embargo even as Türkiye condemns move

The Mediterranean island has been divided between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and a breakaway northern statelet, set up after a Turkish invasion launched in 1974 in response to a coup sponsored by the military junta then ruling Greece. Photo: Reuters

Turkish troops parade atop armoured vehicles in the northern part of Nicosia, the capital of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in 2020. Photo: AFP

Will Cyprus’ City of Dreams Mediterranean casino resort be a safe bet, with no Russian gamblers and fears of money laundering?

The City of Dreams Mediterranean casino under construction in Cyprus’ southern coastal city of Limassol. Photo: Roy Issa/AFP

Grant Johnson, property general manager of Melco Resorts and Entertainment. Photo: Roy Issa/AFP

Staff members stack chips at a roulette table at the Arkin Colony Hotel & Casino in Kyrenia in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Photo: Roy Issa/AFP

An aerial view of construction work on the City of Dreams Mediterranean casino in Cyprus. Photo: Roy Issa/AFP

How Russia’s war in Ukraine could end – with Donbas as the next Northern Cyprus

Russian troops guard the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, in Kherson, south Ukraine, on May 20. According to Russian state TV, the future of the Ukrainian regions occupied by Moscow’s forces is all but decided. Photo: AP

A 1997 view of Nicosia – the world’s last divided capital – with high-rise buildings on the Greek side and a Turkish flag on the Gothic Range mountains on the other side of the Green Line. Photo: AFP

Turkey’s president calls for ‘two-state’ solution in Cyprus on visit to island’s north

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets people during a parade for the 37th anniversary of Turkish Cyprus. Photo: EPA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony for the 37th anniversary of Turkish Cyprus. Photo: EPA

Cyprus scraps ‘golden passport’ scheme in a blow to rich Chinese nationals

The Cypriot capital Nicosia in 2016. Photo: AFP

FILE - In this Friday, July 6, 2018 file photo, a woman on the bridge takes a selfie with The Twins buildings in the background, one of a number of new high-rises transforming the skyline view, in the southern coastal city of Limassol in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Cyprus government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, that the Cabinet accepted a recommendation by the minsters of the interior and finance to cancel altogether the "golden passport" program that has netted billions of euros over several years. Koushos said the decision was based on the Cyprus Investment Program's "long-standing weaknesses, but also the abuse" of its provisions. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, File)

An aerial view of the Cypriot capital Nicosia on March 13, 2020. - Cyprus said today it will scrap its citizenship scheme for foreign investors next month over alleged abuses uncovered in a television programme. The move came hours after Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera aired footage of officials allegedly trying to help a person acting as a client with a criminal record to acquire a Cyprus passport. Cyprus began offering citizenship in exchange for substantial investment as far back as 2007, but the scheme was stepped up following the Mediterranean island's 2013 economic crisis. (Photo by Roy ISSA / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 31, 2017 an employee of the Qatar based news network and TV channel Al-Jazeera is pictured at the channel's Jerusalem office. - Cyprus said on October 13, 2020 it will scrap its citizenship scheme for foreign investors next month over alleged abuses uncovered in a television programme. The move came hours after Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera aired footage of officials allegedly trying to help a person acting as a client with a criminal record to acquire a Cyprus passport. Cyprus began offering citizenship in exchange for substantial investment as far back as 2007, but the scheme was stepped up following the Mediterranean island's 2013 economic crisis. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

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The lifting of the embargo is conditional on Nicosia continuing to block Russia warships from its ports
Türkiye, which has thousands of troops in northern Cyprus since its 1974 invasion, “strongly condemned” the move, saying it will lead to an arms race



The lifting of the embargo is conditional on Nicosia continuing to block Russia warships from its ports.


Cyprus welcomes ‘landmark’ US lifting of 1987 arms embargo even as Türkiye condemns move

The lifting of the embargo is conditional on Nicosia continuing to block Russia warships from its ports Türkiye, which has thousands of troops in northern Cyprus since its 1974 invasion, “strongly condemned” the move, saying it will lead to an arms race

The lifting of the embargo is conditional on Nicosia continuing to block Russia warships from its ports

Türkiye, which has thousands of troops in northern Cyprus since its 1974 invasion, “strongly condemned” the move, saying it will lead to an arms race