Üstel calls scenarios of an Israeli strike on the occupied north “dangerous” and attacks Greek and Cypriot armaments

Ünal Üstel, the “prime minister” of the breakaway regime in the occupied north of Cyprus and leader of its National Unity Party (UBP), claims that “attack scenarios” by Israel and Greece against the occupied areas are circulating in the Eastern Mediterranean and have “reached a dangerous point”. His statements were reported on October 10 by the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, under a headline that speaks of a “warning” from the regime to Israel and Greece.

Üstel called on Turkish Cypriots to “protect” the breakaway regime and the “motherland” Turkey through unity, arguing that the Cyprus issue is going through a “critical and dangerous period”.

The “scenarios” he cites

According to Üstel, a retired Greek officer argued on a television programme that Israel could strike Turkish military targets in the occupied north. The same officer, Üstel said, claimed that such a strike would not count as an attack on a NATO member, because Cyprus does not belong to the Alliance. The Turkish Cypriot politician also said that Greek and Greek Cypriot media had published analyses on possible support by the Greek military for Israeli strikes.

He conceded that these remarks “are not proof of an official decision to attack”. But he argued that they show “how dangerous a point a mentality has reached” that puts the question of attacking Turkish soldiers, and of removing Turkey from Cyprus, up for discussion.

An attack on armaments and on “Blue Homeland”

Üstel also turned on the military cooperation of the United States, France and Israel with the Republic of Cyprus and Greece. He argued that military and political support for the “Greek Cypriot and Greek side” encourages, in his words, “intransigent policies”, and that the breakaway regime will not stay silent in the face of scenarios aimed at the Turkish presence on the island. His remarks come as the Cypriot National Guard turns to Israeli systems, such as the Merkava Mk4 tanks being considered by Nicosia, and as Athens moves ahead with the “Achilles Shield” built around Israeli systems.

He also reacted to a statement by a Greek Cypriot member of the European Parliament that “Blue Homeland is ours”, saying that such an approach is directed against Turkey’s rights and interests at sea. “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) is the Turkish doctrine that claims maritime zones in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean at the expense of Greek and Cypriot sovereign rights.

The message for the home audience

The second part of his statements had a clear domestic audience. Üstel said that the “sovereignty” of the breakaway regime and Turkey’s presence on the island cannot be put up for discussion, and that political rivalry must not be placed above security. “We must not hand over our state, our security and our future to those who explain their reason for existing as union with the Greek Cypriots,” he said, targeting the forces that support the reunification of Cyprus.

He also called for “fraternal ties” with Turkey to be strengthened and warned against sacrificing, as he put it, the “gains” made over the years for “uncertain, populist election promises”. His rhetoric repeats Ankara’s line of a two-state solution, which stands in direct contradiction to the UN Security Council resolutions calling for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.