US partially lifts decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus – By Al Jazeera and News Agencies (Al Jazeera) / Sept 2 2020
US decision to remove blocks for one year on the sale of ‘non-lethal defence articles’ slammed by Turkey.
The United States has said it will lift for one year its decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus to allow “non-lethal” military goods to be sold to the Mediterranean island.
In a move which was immediately slammed by Turkey, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Republic of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades of the change in a phone call on Tuesday.
From October 1, the US will remove blocks for one year on the sale or transfer of “non-lethal defence articles and defence services”, the State Department said.
Pompeo also “reaffirmed US support for a comprehensive settlement to reunify the island”, according to State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.
For his part, Anastasiades welcomed the lifting of the embargo, which the US imposed in 1987 in the hope that it could encourage the reunification of the island. He said the “positive” development “reinforce[d] the bilateral security relationship” between the two countries.
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