







{"id":16742,"date":"2024-08-21T06:16:22","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T06:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/?p=16742"},"modified":"2024-08-27T05:03:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T05:03:50","slug":"turkeys-invasion-threats-should-be-taken-very-seriously-cyprus-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/21\/turkeys-invasion-threats-should-be-taken-very-seriously-cyprus-official\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkey&#8217;s invasion threats should be taken &#8216;very seriously&#8217;: Cyprus official"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-body\">\n<div class=\"featured featured-video video-ct\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">\n<div class=\"contain\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">\n<div class=\"control\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"top\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><\/a> <a href=\"#\" class=\"close\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">close<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"video-container\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">\n<div data-video-tags=\"3play_sameday\" data-video-title=\"Cyprus government official discusses Turkey's regional ambitions\" data-video-id=\"6360225111112\" data-video-domain=\"foxnews\" data-video-type=\"CLIP\" data-widget-type=\"embed\" class=\"m video-player\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6360225111112\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><picture data-v-543741ec=\"\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/288\/162\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/576\/324\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/672\/378\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/1344\/756\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/676\/380\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/1352\/760\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/896\/500\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/1792\/1000\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net\/v1\/static\/694940094001\/c20b5bcf-5a84-4d76-9929-6267063c3a7c\/3be8013f-a59d-4128-87b3-2f7c70c9ccd9\/1280x720\/match\/896\/500\/image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Cyprus government official discusses Turkey's regional ambitions\" width=\"896\" height=\"500\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture> <span class=\"overlay\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">Video<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"title\" data-v-543741ec=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6360225111112\" data-v-543741ec=\"\">Cyprus government official discusses Turkey&#8217;s regional ambitions<\/a><\/h4>\n<p data-v-543741ec=\"\">Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the official government spokesperson for Cyprus, discusses Turkey&#8217;s threat to invade Israel over the Gaza Strip and the danger of Ankara&#8217;s regional ambitions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"paywall\">\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-title\">Join Fox News for access to this content<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-gating-subtitle\">Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account &#8211; free of charge.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/terms-of-use\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a>, which includes our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/privacy-policy#fi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/a>.\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"message error hide\"><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/div>\n<form class=\"article-gating-form\"><input placeholder=\"Enter your email\" name=\"gate-email\" type=\"email\" required=\"required\" class=\"article-gating-input\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal mobile\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/terms-of-use\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a>, which includes our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/privacy-policy#fi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/a>.\n      <\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" name=\"gate-email-submit\" value=\"Continue\" class=\"input-submit\"><\/form>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><a href=\"https:\/\/help.foxnews.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/23074352680475-Are-you-encountering-any-technical-challenges-while-trying-to-log-into-Fox-News-to-access-special-content\" class=\"article-gating-help\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/a><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan&#8217;s recent threat to invade Israel should not be taken lightly and betrays <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/turkey-greece-european-union-foreign-policy-mediterranean\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ankara\u2019s continued regional ambitions<\/a>, according to an official from Cyprus.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb2\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb2\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban1\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban1\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">&#8220;Any threat being made publicly has to be taken very, very seriously here and we think that the international community cannot ignore or disregard the threats,&#8221; Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the official government spokesperson for Cyprus, told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;History itself has proven this, respect for international law is fundamental, and it goes without saying that all of us should be strongly committed to it,&#8221; Letymbiotis said. &#8220;Unfortunately, as a country, we have been experiencing for the last 50 years a continuous ongoing increase in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/chances-cyprus-peace-talks-restart-look-dimmer-turkish-cypriot-leader-sees-no-common-ground\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">illegal occupation of 37% of the Republic of Cyprus<\/a> territory by Turkey.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container desktop ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb2\" id=\"desktop-desk-ad-lb2\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;We know exactly the consequences of an illegal invasion, and we take every threat very seriously,&#8221; Letymbiotis said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban2\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban2\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/turkey-sparks-outrage-after-embassy-in-israel-lowers-flag-half-mast-hamas-terrorist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TURKEY SPARKS OUTRAGE AFTER EMBASSY IN ISRAEL LOWERS FLAG TO HALF-MAST FOR HAMAS TERRORIST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/343\/192\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/686\/384\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/672\/378\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/931\/523\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/720\/405\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-1241210937.jpg-erdogan-war-games.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Erdogan\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observes a military exercise in Izmir, Turkey, on June 9, 2022.<\/span> <span>(Xinhua via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb3\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb3\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Erdo\u011fan at the end of July <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/turkeys-erdogan-threatens-to-invade-israel-over-war-in-gaza-regional-tensions-grow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suggested to his party that Turkey<\/a> &#8220;must be very strong so that Israel can\u2019t do these ridiculous things to Palestine&#8221; and, further, &#8220;just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The comments drew a scathing rebuke from Israel, with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz comparing Erdo\u011fan to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying that Erdo\u011fan should &#8220;remember what happened there and how it ended,&#8221; referring to Hussein\u2019s execution by hanging in 2006.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-2162130915.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Cyprus memorial service\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>President Nikos Christodoulides during the memorial service in Nicosia, Cyprus, on July 20, 2024. The service marked the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion, which led to the occupation of 37% of the island, at Makedonitissa Tomb, where the bodies of the soldiers killed during the war are buried.<\/span> <span>(Kostas Pikoulas\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban3\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban3\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>When previously questioned about the Turkish president&#8217;s comments, an embassy spokesperson in the U.S. told Fox News Digital, &#8220;Turkey has no issue with the Israeli people at all. Our problem has been with the brutal acts and irresponsible steps of the current extremist Israeli government.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Letymbiotis argued that part of the issue is that the world no longer has &#8220;so-called frozen conflicts&#8221; and it grows &#8220;more evident than ever, and more especially in our region&#8221; with increasingly intense fighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb4\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb4\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/turkish-foreign-minister-urges-china-protect-rights-muslim-uyghurs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER URGES CHINA TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF MUSLIM UYGHURS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container desktop ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb3\" id=\"desktop-desk-ad-lb3\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban4\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban4\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With Turkey specifically, Letymbiotis points to the ongoing &#8220;Turkification&#8221; of parts of Cyprus \u2013 changing names of geographical sites and &#8220;systematic destruction&#8221; of cultural and historical heritage \u2013 as one of the main indicators that Turkey seeks influence and control rather than any altruistic drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is in the context of Turkish revisionism, expansionism in the neo-Ottoman approach,&#8221; Letymbiotis said. &#8220;This is not the first time we have seen this kind of approach from Turkey.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-2165641716.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Turkish flag replica in Cyprus\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A replica of the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the slopes of Mount Pentadaktylos in the occupied part of Cyprus, on Aug. 10, 2024. Next to it is the motto &#8220;Happy is he who calls himself a Turk.&#8221;<\/span> <span>(Christoph Reichwein\/picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;In the case of the region and especially in the case of the narrative that Turkey and President Erdo\u011fan specifically has adopted, we should also highlight the timing that they choose to continue this narrative and the position taken at the time when the government of the Republic of Cyprus president himself is making intensive efforts to resume negotiations,&#8221; he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb5\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb5\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban5\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban5\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and divided it along ethnic lines during a time when the island aimed at uniting with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and although Cyprus is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/european-union-approves-6-4b-plan-support-western-balkans-future-membership\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>European Union member<\/u><\/a>, only the south enjoys full membership benefits.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/us-assets-deployed-mideast-help-israel-unlikely-impact-irans-mind-retaliation-experts-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>US ASSETS DEPLOYED TO MIDEAST WILL HELP ISRAEL BUT WILL UNLIKELY ALTER IRAN&#8217;S MIND ON RETALIATION, EXPERTS SAY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/343\/192\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/686\/384\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/672\/378\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/931\/523\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/720\/405\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-1921056870.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Helicopter during a military exercise\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A Turkish helicopter takes part in a military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean on Jan. 12, 2024.<\/span> <span>(Orhan Cicek\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Cyprus has in turn reached out to other nations, such as Armenia, which have recently felt the weight of Turkey\u2019s regional ambitions: Karabakh, as Erdo\u011fan referred to it, was an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/thousands-armenians-flee-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-reclaims-separatist-region\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">enclave of around 120,000 Armenians<\/a> who lived within Azerbaijan until they were kicked out of the country last year and their land seized by Baku.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban6\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban6\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Cyprus also played a key role in the U.S. plan to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/un-plans-new-aid-routes-gaza-desperate-crowds-halt-deliveries-us-built-pier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deploy humanitarian aid to Gaza<\/a> as Israel continues its operations in the country. The European Union and United States in March established a sea route that would start at Cyprus and deliver aid to ports on the Gaza Strip.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container desktop ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb4\" id=\"desktop-desk-ad-lb4\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb6\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb6\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards,&#8221; Lior Haiat, former spokesperson for Israel\u2019s foreign ministry, said on social media platform X in March.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/343\/192\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/686\/384\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/672\/378\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1344\/756\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/931\/523\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1862\/1046\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/720\/405\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1440\/810\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1200\/675\/test-image.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Gaza Cyprus corridor\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A crane unloads food packages over a makeshift port on the Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 16, 2024.<\/span> <span>(World Central Kitchen via AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Letymbiotis hopes that this cooperation, born out of the &#8220;best period&#8221; of Cyprus-U.S. relations, will continue to improve the country\u2019s standing and global perception, leading to further advances.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban7\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban7\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Our relations with the United States of America are based on a foundation of mutual trust,&#8221; Letymbiotis said. &#8220;Cyprus is no longer approached by the U.S. only through the prism of the Cyprus problem, but also as a reliable, stable partner.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6360148855112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>FORMER IDF SPOKESPERSON WARNS HEZBOLLAH IS \u2018X-FACTOR\u2019 IN LOOMING WAR WITH IRAN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb7\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb7\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The role of Cyprus and the level of cooperation has been substantially highlighted from both the evacuations of citizens in crisis in the region and also through the very important domestic initiative that created the maritime border to provide humanitarian aid to people in Gaza.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban8\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban8\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However, he lamented that Turkey remains a problem due to its membership in NATO, where the country can use its veto power to troubling effect, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/turkey-approves-swedens-nato-membership-bid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">when Sweden needed to acquiesce<\/a> to Ankara\u2019s demands before Erdo\u011fan agreed to allow it to join the alliance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/apps-products?pid=AppArticleLink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/343\/192\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/686\/384\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/672\/378\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1344\/756\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/931\/523\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1862\/1046\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/720\/405\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1440\/810\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-1243634914.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Soldier holds flag\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A soldier holds the Cypriot flag during the annual military parade to mark the Independence Day of Cyprus in the divided capital of Nicosia, Oct. 1, 2022. (Danil Shamkin\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container desktop ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb5\" id=\"desktop-desk-ad-lb5\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Seeing how Ankara behaves with the issue of Swedish membership in the North Atlantic alliance, think what would happen in the case of Cyprus if we applied for membership, an issue that Turkey won&#8217;t even discuss,&#8221; he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container tablet ad-h-50 ad-w-300\">\n<div data-iu=\"lb8\" id=\"tablet-tw-ad-lb8\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-container mobile ad-h-250 ad-w-300 ad-placeholder-load\">\n<div data-iu=\"ban9\" id=\"mobile-mw-ad-ban9\" data-ad-size=\"\" class=\"ad gam inline\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Turkish embassy did not respond to several Fox News Digital inquiries about the Cyprus spokesman\u2019s comments by the time of publication.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><i>Fox News Digital\u2019s Caitlin McFall and The Associated Press contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>close Video Cyprus government official discusses Turkey&#8217;s regional ambitions Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the official government spokesperson for Cyprus, discusses Turkey&#8217;s threat to invade Israel over the Gaza Strip and the danger of Ankara&#8217;s regional ambitions.\u00a0 Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16742"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17089,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16742\/revisions\/17089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cissar.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}