President Ersin Tatar on Thursday denounced the “target practice for Greek Cypriot ministers and MPs” organized by the Greek Cypriot administration.

A similar target practice had been carried out by priests several months ago.

He described the incident as a new provocation in the Eastern Mediterranean, serving nothing more than raising tensions in the region.

Tatar also said that the fact that the activity took place just days after the US removed an arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration was thought-provoking.

In a written statement issued on Thursday, President Ersin Tatar slammed the Greek Cypriot Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides and MPs who took part in the target practice activity during a visit to the headquarters of the Greek Cypriot National Guard.

He said that the activity, which he described as a provocation that served to raise tensions in the region, proved that the spirit of EOKA the dreams of uniting the island with Greece were still dominant and alive on the Greek Cypriot side.

Tatar also said that the fact that the activity took place just days after the US removed an arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot administration was thought-provoking.

“The Greek Cypriot National Guard and the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church had organised a similar activity for members of the church in February this year. The target practice carried out by the ministers and MPs is a negative development for the stability as well as the Turkish-Greek Balance for the region. Furthermore it is exhausting all hopes for reaching an agreement between the two sides,” he said.

Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue its struggle for existence on the island as well as stand against the mentality that aims to wipe out the Turkish Cypriot people.