( Cihan ) - Turkish Foreign Ministry has reacted to an agreement on military cooperation signed between France and Greek Cyprus and said that the deal would constitute a threat to the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greek Cypriot press reported yesterday that France and Greek Cyprus on Wednesday signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement, which enables French military forces to use Greek Cypriot naval and air bases on the southern part of the divided island.
"Such an agreement would be against the 1960 Treaties, would constitute a threat to the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and would also adversely affect efforts for a comprehensive settlement under the UN observation," said a statement issued by Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
The ministry also said that they asked the French authorities to refrain from taking such a step, which is closely related to Turkey's rights and interests.
The statement also underlined that the "fragile balance established by the 1960 Treaties in the Island of Cyprus and in Eastern Mediterranean is safeguarded by the rights of Guarantor countries".
It was also said in the statement that the agreement in question contradicted to the framework and the parameters of a settlement under the UN, labeling such a bilateral military agreement "a cause of concern".