Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

new Landmine Clearance Agreement has been signed between the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces and the UNFICYP concerning the issue of landmine clearance in Cyprus.The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has said that reports in the Greek Cypriot press claiming that the deal had been shelved after the Turkish Cypriot Side had demanded that the agreement be signed between the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Command and UNFICYP were false and baseless.
Commenting on the issue during his weekly press briefing, the Presidential Spokesman said the mine clearance agreement had been signed and put into force by means of exchange of letters between the Commanders of the Security Forces Major General Mr. Mehmet Eröz and the UNFICYP Major General Mr. Rafael Jose Barni on the 13th of December 2007.

He said the agreement, in principle, aims to broaden the landmine clearance agreement and to determine the principles of the cooperation of the two forces in clearing the mines.

Referring to reports in the Greek Cypriot press last week which claimed that the deal had been shelved, the Presidential spokesman said the reports were false and baseless.

He said works concerning the said agreement had been finalized during the days the UN Security Council resolution was being discussed and therefore was quite clear why no reference has been made to this issue in the UN Security Council Resolution.