Turkish Cypriot leader criticizes EU policy and military agreements

Unal Ustel, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot administration, criticized the European Union for what he described as a biased and unfair approach to the Cyprus issue. His comments followed the informal EU summit and discussions surrounding President Nikos Christodoulides' efforts to invoke Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty. Ustel specifically condemned the recent SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) between Cyprus and France, labeling the potential deployment of French troops as a dangerous and provocative step. He accused the Republic of Cyprus of attempting to involve Europe in maximalist policies and regional conflicts. Furthermore, Ustel alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is rapidly rearming and turning the island into a hub for foreign military presence. Reaffirming support for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality with Turkey's backing, Ustel warned that the Greek Cypriot administration would be the party to lose from these actions. He insisted that any military activity on the island requires Turkish Cypriot approval to be valid under international law.