Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that the United Nations peacekeeping forces' intervention to obstruct road construction in southern divided Cyprus last week is unacceptable. Following the weekly Cabinet meeting, Erdogan mentioned, "Tensions have escalated again in the region due to these stances that contradict international law." He added, "We cannot look favorably at this interference at a time when we are trying to enhance our relationships with our neighbors mutually and resolve issues between us."
Clashes occurred on Friday between UN peacekeepers and Turkish security personnel when the peacekeepers attempted to block the initiation of the road construction in an area that the UN states is part of a buffer zone under its jurisdiction. Erdogan also stated that Turkey will continue its support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Ankara.
