Cyprus-Forum.com

[insan]

No Cyprus troop pullout without deal-Turkish general
Tue Jan 25, 2005 01:35 PM GMT




NICOSIA (Reuters) - A top Turkish general has said Turkey would not withdraw any troops from Cyprus until a comprehensive settlement has been reached on the divided island.
Pulling back some of the 30,000 troops Turkey keeps in the northern third of Cyprus is seen as a goodwill gesture to revive a U.N. peace process to reunite the island before Turkey begins European Union accession talks in October.

However, the influential military and other parts of Turkey's conservative establishment could prove reluctant to cede ground after the last U.N.-brokered effort collapsed in April when Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. plan in a public referendum.

"Until there is a definitive and permanent understanding here, not a single soldier will leave," land forces commander Yasar Buyukanit, the No. 2 in Turkey's military powerful General Staff, said on Tuesday.

"We desire that a lasting peace should be achieved, but what kind of permanency is also very important. What looks permanent today could change tomorrow," he told reporters during a troop inspection in northern Cyprus.

Only Ankara recognises the Turkish Cypriot statelet, while the rest of the world community sees the Greek Cypriot government, which joined the EU in 2004, as the Mediterranean island's sole legitimate authority.

The EU agreed in December to start entry talks with Muslim Turkey this year, but Greek Cypriots have said they can still veto negotiations if no settlement is reached.

Brussels expects Turkey to expand its protocol recognising the EU to cover the 10 new members, including Cyprus.

Turkey's pro-EU government has promised to work for a settlement this year but no concrete steps have yet been taken.



© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

[brother]

I cannot say that statement is a step in the right direction if anything it is a step backwards.