LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday decried the Greek Cypriot administration’s recent move to allow PYD/PKK terrorist group to open a representative office.

Underlining that PYD is the political wing of the PKK terror group, TRNC Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoglu said: “With this pro-terror attitude, the Greek Cypriot administration has started to lay the groundwork for illegal activities on the island.”

“The recent step, which allows this bloody murder network to operate on the island through opening an office, is a new page in the Greek Cypriot administration's history that feeds terrorism,” Sucuoglu said in a statement.

He accused the Greek Cypriot administration, which is also a member to the EU, of endangering the peace on the island and in the region.

The prime minister called on the Greek Cypriot side to “retract its recent steps that support terrorism and not to test the joint power of Turkiye and the TRNC.”

** Separately, TRNC President Ersin Tatar said his country will not allow such a structure to take place and that they will do whatever is necessary.

** Underlining that they already knew the Greek Cypriot side have some ties with the PKK terror group, he said they strongly condemned the recent move.

** “Turkiye is the largest and most powerful country in this region. Therefore, Turkiye will never allow a confrontation that will affect its own security and peace, as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday,” he added.

On Thursday, Turkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also lambasted the Greek Cypriot administration for hosting an office belonging to the terrorist group.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Estonian counterpart Eva-Maria Liimets, Cavusoglu said if Turkiye or the Turkish Cypriot side faces any threat or attack from the Greek Cypriot side, “we will make them pay the price.”

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz and Gozde Bayar in Ankara.