UPDATE - Turkish Cyprus condemns US sanctions on Turkey

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM TRNC PRESIDENCY, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan

LEFKOSA (AA) - The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Tuesday condemned the US decision to impose sanctions on Turkey.

"We regret and condemn the unfounded sanction decision taken by the US on December 14, 2020 by citing Turkey’s purchase of S-400 air defense system," said the presidency of TRNC in a statement.

This decision taken against Turkey, one of the most important members of NATO, does not comply with the alliance relationship, it added.

The US should respect Turkey's decision to strengthen its own defense as a sovereign country, it added.

In a separate statement, TRNC’s Prime Minister Ersan Saner said: “It is extremely wrong to impose sanctions on Turkey just because it purchased S-400 missiles for its own stability and that of its region.”

Saner stressed that Turkey is the "sole guarantor” for the Turkish Cypriot people's existence on the island and the sovereignty of the TRNC.

He also noted that Ankara's power and apt policies made it the most important component for peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus.

Saner added that Washington had made "contradicting moves and wrong choices" by lifting the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration, which is not a member of NATO unlike Turkey — to which Washington refused to sell Patriot missiles defense systems — as well as by failing to fulfill its promises to Ankara under the joint F-35 fighter jet project.

He called on the US to "revert from its mistake and develop healthy relations with Turkey."

In April 2017, when its protracted efforts to buy an air defense system from the US proved fruitless, Turkey signed a contract with Russia to acquire the S-400 shield.

US officials have voiced opposition to their deployment, claiming they would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose next-generation F-35 jets to possible Russian subterfuge.

Turkey, however, stressed that the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems, and posed no threat to the alliance or its armaments.

It has repeatedly urged a working group to clear up the technical compatibility issues.

The US on Monday imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system

The sanctions, coming under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), target the Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), including Head of SSB Ismail Demir and three other officials.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin and Sena Guler