Turkey warns of ‘escalation’ if US ends Cyprus arms embargo
December 18, 2019, 10:22 am

Turkey warns of ‘escalation’ if US ends Cyprus arms embargo

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (File photo AFP)

Turkey has warned that US moves to lift a decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus would be a “dangerous escalation,” as relations deteriorated further between the NATO allies.

The US Congress voted on Tuesday to end the embargo on the island, which was imposed in 1987 to avoid an arms race and encourage the conflict’s resolution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup engineered by the then military regime in Athens.

The US decision “will have no outcome other than hampering efforts towards a settlement on the island and creating a dangerous escalation,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The US measure was approved as part of a large defense spending bill that passed both chambers of the US Congress, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it into law.

Relations between Ankara and Washington are at one of the lowest points in recent history.

There are multiple disagreements causing tensions including US support for a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed by Turkey as terrorists and Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.

The US has threatened further sanctions over the S-400 deal after removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program earlier this year.

The Turkish foreign ministry vowed to respond to “initiatives against Turkey,” saying that “the language of threats and sanctions will never dissuade Turkey from resolutely taking steps to ensure its national security.”

source: AFP

Blair tells Britain’s Labour: change or face dustbin of history Hungarian official says his country defending Europe from terrorist threat

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”