Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

Gen. Buyukanit And Cyprus
BYEGM: 1/26/2005

BY FIKRET BILA

MIILLIYET- Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit’s recent remarks in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has important messages for the EU and the Greek Cypriot administration. Stating that not a single Turkish soldier will be withdrawn from the island without a certain and permanent solution, Buyukanit emphasized that the Turkish side favored a solution. He emphasized that Turkish soldiers are located in Cyprus based on international agreements in order to ensure Turkish Cypriots’ security. Buyukanit added that the isolation on Turkish Cypriots was not only unfair, but also illegal. The solution of the Cyprus issue is a stipulation for Turkey to start membership talks with the EU. The EU has done it before to give a date for membership talks. Cyprus is a special stipulation for Turkey, outside the Copenhagen criteria. The Turkish side accepted this stipulation and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan, but the EU continued and it’s still continuing its unfair and illegal stance. Clearly, the EU is considering the issue from the perspective of the Greek Cypriot administration. While the EU laid down conditions for Turkey, it provided the Greek Cypriot administration with the guarantee of unconditional membership and full membership. In spite of this unfairness, the burden of solving the problem is on Turkey’s shoulders. The essence of the condition is that the Greek Cypriot administration will be recognized in a way to represent the entire Cyprus. It always expects Turkey to make a concession.

In addition, the EU also expects Turkey to make a gesture by withdrawing its soldiers from the island. The EU mentions this expectation but it is also supported by some Turkish people. However, the Greek Cypriot administration should make a concession and take a step. As long as such a pressure isn’t put on the Greek Cypriot administration, it has the luxury to wait until Oct. 3, 2005. The EU provided it with this luxury. The EU is exploiting Turkey’s wish and insistence on EU membership and trying to make Turkey accept its requests until Oct. 3, 2005. The main problem of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration is the Turkish soldiers in the island and they want those soldiers to be withdrawn from the island. Clearly, they will put pressure for this purpose and try to reach their aims with the EU’s support. That’s why Buyukanit’s remarks are important.

[brother]

Turkish General repeats who the boss is in occupied Cyprus. Talat seconds the General's views

Under the title "Not a single soldier will leave unless there is a solution", Kibris newspaper (26/01/05) covers in its front page the statements made by the Turkish Land Forces Commander, General Yasar Buyukkanit, who is visiting occupied Cyprus illegally to inspect the thousands of occupation troops stationed in northern Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The Turkish General yesterday met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas. During the meeting the Turkish General declared that the Turkish army will not terminate the occupation of northern Cyprus before a solution. (For the general's statements see Turkish Mass Media Bulletin No. 16/05, 25.01.05).

Mr Denktas thanked the Turkish General for his statements and stressed that drawing strength from the motherland they are trying to protect their independence and that their target is to make this independence the basis of permanent peace.

On his part, in statements after meeting General Buyukkanit, the pseudo-prime minister of Turkey's regime in occupied Cyprus, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, seconded the General's views alleging that discussion of the withdrawal of the Turkish troops is extremely dangerous, adding:

"The Cyprus problem was not created by the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus. The Turkish troops are on the island because of the Cyprus problem and only its solution will bring the issue of the existence of the Turkish troops on the agenda. Any discussion of this issue outside this framework is extremely dangerous".

[insan]

It has always been made clear that when a permenant solution has been found Turkish army would be withdrawn according to mutually agreed and signed settlements.

So, what's the real aim, hidden agenda behind the demand and pressure Turkey to withdraw her troops immediately before a permenant solution agreement has been reached?

UN resolutions? All UN resolution calls upon all concerned parties to do this and that, recommends this and that... Around 30.000 Turkish soldiers and some 8-10.000 Greek troops still maintain their presence in Cyprus because no permenant solution has been found yet, since 1974.


Furthermore, I'm not an military expert and I have no idea what number of Turkish soldiers needed under the circumstances to balance the military power of Cyprus but I think National guard, Greek troops and GC reservists with their military equipments is in a more adventageous position than the North Cyprus Security Forces and Turkish Peace Forces stationed in North of the Island. Though, when we take into consideration the distances of Greece and Turkey to Cyprus; Turkey has a far better military position than Greece and GCs, in Cyprus.


Nevetheless, I wish Turkey to withdraw some 3000-5000 troops as a gesture and good will towarsds a genuine rapproachment. No matter how negative attitude keep maintaining some political groups of Hellenes against Turkey's EU membership. These groups within the nations will always exist. There are similar groups within Turkey as well, except the exact equivelant of Hellenic Front of course...

[boulio]

UN resolutions? All UN resolution calls upon all concerned parties to do this and that, recommends this and that... Around 30.000 Turkish soldiers and some 8-10.000 Greek troops still maintain their presence in Cyprus because no permenant solution has been found yet, since 1974.


i dont think the eldyk in cyprus,is at 8-10,000 troops levels,not even close to that.

[brother]

so what do you think it stands at bulio

[boulio]

off the top of my head i dont know,but i would think 1,200-2,000 troops.i will look it up.

[brother]

thanks will wait your reply.

[boulio]

FROM another forum that i put the question they stateted that the greek troops level is at 1,200 men roughly two battalions.

[insan]

Let's take a look at the current security architecture in Cyprus.

Slide 2. Current Situation

-- Turkish Army corps and Turkish Cypriot Security Force in the north

-- Greek Army brigade and Greek Cypriot National Guard in the south

-- U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in the Green Line

In addition, the United Kingdom has two Sovereign Base Areas with about 3,500 soldiers and airman. However, these forces are not involved with the Cyprus problem and, hence, are not depicted on the slide.

Let's see what this looks like graphically.

Slide 3. Current Order of Battle

-- Turkish Army corps with approximately 30,000 soldiers

-- Turkish Cypriot Security Force with about 4,000 soldiers

-- UNFICYP controlling the buffer zone with approximately 1,250 military and civilian personnel from 20 different countries

-- Greek Army armored brigade of about 4,000

-- Greek Cypriot National Guard with about 15,000 soldiers, some of which are from Greece, plus a ready reserve force of 35,000 soldiers

The result is a total force of 54,000 soldiers actively engaged in the defense and protection of Cyprus and its two communities.

Both sides are equipped with tanks, self-propelled artillery, armored personnel carriers, and air defense systems.



http://www.westernpolicy.org/Conference ... tation.asp

[brother]

With what insan has shown its not that far from the truth is it but thanks for the stats you guys have managed to pull up.