Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

It's high time the NATO countries put their founding principles into practice and viewed the air attacks by Turkey over the Aegean, as an attack on them all. No less than a full invasion, occupation and subsequent trimming of Turkey, for the purpose of future peace and stability, will suffice.

[Paphitis]

Air attacks???

Will the "wise" RoC Government apply to join the PfP, participate in the European Missile shield and apply to join NATO, even if this means that it will be vetoed by Turkey, giving the RoC a much needed diplomatic victory.

A new strategic partnership with Israel is a good start!

[Oracle]

Yeah, Air attacks. Invasion of Greek Air Space. Same thing to us civilians! Just stop them.

How would the USA like it if Turkey flew its Jets into US Air space without invitation, permission or warning?

[Paphitis]

Yeah, Air attacks. Invasion of Greek Air Space. Same thing to us civilians! Just stop them.

How would the USA like it if Turkey flew its Jets into US Air space without invitation, permission or warning?

Flying in the Athens FIR is not a violation of National Airspace. Let's be very clear about this!

The US Navy regularly fly in the Nicosia FIR without lodging Flight Plans.

Australian RAAF do the exact same thing in the Jakarta FIR, and have been intercepted often!

That is the nature of the beast.

Are you referring to Farmakonissi? The HAF could engage, but the Greek Government lacks a backbone and this encourages Turkey even more.

[All4114All]

Turkey is not a partner, but an owner of NATO, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Saturday, adding that an agreement within the multi-national alliance is as important as an accord within the European Union.

Speaking to a small group of journalists en route from Xi’an to Shanghai as part of his weeklong China trip, Davutoğlu related a story about how a foreign minister from an EU member state referred to Turkey as an “important partner” during a meeting involving European security and defense policy.

“I took the floor after him in the same meeting and said that we are not a partner here, but an owner. We are an owner of NATO. We are not a partner,” the Turkish foreign minister said.

“I told my colleague the hat that should be worn in this meeting should belong to NATO and if he wants to speak with his EU hat on, he should go to another street in Brussels,” Davutoğlu added.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is believed to be the EU colleague to whom Davutoğlu was referring.

“That was a pleasant discussion. My friend came later saying he had been misunderstood and we hugged,” the Turkish foreign minister added.

Turkey is not a member state in the EU, but a candidate country that began formal accession talks in 2005. The country has, however, been a member of NATO since 1952. Most recently, Ankara has been the subject of discussions over a potential NATO missile-defense system originally proposed by the United States during the Bush administration. It is unclear whether Turkey will actively participate in the proposed system directed against Iran, which much of the international community considers a threat due to its controversial nuclear program.

In discussing the plans, Davutoğlu first said calling the proposed system a “missile shield” was incorrect both technically and politically.

“Missile shield, missile wars, where will Turkey be in this war? The discussions within NATO are not about this at all,” he said. Davutoğlu added that the focus at the recent Brussels meeting of NATO foreign and defense ministers was more about NATO-EU cooperation, which he said did not have ramifications in Turkey.

Turkey not alone, but at the center of NATO

Davutoğlu then clarified the basic three principles in Ankara’s policy toward the NATO missile-defense system.

“First of all, Turkey is not a country that has to be convinced by NATO. Turkey is not alone; Turkey is at the center of NATO,” he said.

The foreign minister then gave another example from a different international meeting where Turkey’s role in NATO was being questioned.

“I gave a similar reaction in this debate too. If one [official from a member state] asks if the alliance is losing Turkey, this is an insult to Turkey... Every matter is discussed in NATO together. Turkey’s position should be taken into consideration here,” he said. “NATO regularly reviews its security defense concept as a whole and takes necessary measures as a security organization. It is out of the question for Turkey to oppose these measures.”

While explaining the country’s second principle, the foreign minister said NATO should take into account the principle of “indivisible security,” meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every member state’s security.

“An understanding of exclusion of certain regions of Turkey [from the proposed defense system] cannot be accepted. Turkey should entirely be protected,” he said. “The essence of the focus is the security of member states and only the security of member states.”

‘Turkey will not be a frontier’

In explaining the third principle, Davutoğlu said Turkey does perceive any threat in its neighborhood and does not plan to be a frontier country as it was during the Cold War era.

“Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO, while doing threat planning on this issue, should cover all member states and should remain outside any formula that would geographically set one country against another,” he said.

The United States has often portrayed the missile-defense system as a safeguard against a possible ballistic strike from Iran. Ankara is concerned that such a perception could damage its growing relationship with its neighbor and has said it does not want the system to specifically identify any neighboring country, whether it be Iran or Syria.

“It is true that Turkey does not consider it appropriate to refer to neighboring countries in this [missile-defense] system... we want stability, prosperity and peace in our neighborhood,” Davutoğlu said.

‘We are not afraid of loneliness’

Asked if Turkey had reached a compromise with Washington on the plan, the foreign minister said it was in the works.

“If we defend one true thing, we never become afraid of remaining alone... It is natural for NATO to develop a defense system and Turkey will take part in this. It is not possible for anyone to oppose this,” he said.

Commenting on cooperation between NATO and the EU, Davutoğlu said, “An accord within NATO is as important as an accord within the EU.” He added that Turkey should be involved in the decision-making mechanisms related to EU security studies.

The decades-old Cyprus impasse is a sticking point in NATO-EU cooperation. Turkey objects to Greek Cyprus, an EU member state, sitting in on EU-NATO meetings because it is not a member of NATO’s partnership-for-peace program. Such issues were discussed in detail when NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Ankara recently.

“The EU has not signed a security agreement with Turkey. Turkey’s accession to the European Defense Agency has not been approved. Turkey is not actively involved in the European security and defense policies and Turkey is the only country in this position compared to other non-EU, but NATO member states,” said Davutoğlu.

The foreign minister made clear that considering the abnormality, it would not be correct to expect Turkey to approve Greek Cyprus’ involvement in NATO decision-making mechanisms.

“Our attitude is based on principles and well understood by all parties concerned,” Davutoğlu said.

Genocide resolution not used as leverage

Asked about whether Washington was using the threat of a resolution acknowledging the alleged Armenian genocide as leverage against Ankara during negotiations on the NATO missile-defense plan, Davutoğlu said it was out of question.

“It is out of the question for any friendly country and ally to use an issue as leverage against us… This does not bode well with an alliance understanding,” he said. “We have constructive dialogue with the U.S. administration.”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php? ... 2010-10-30

[EPSILON]

Air attacks???

Will the "wise" RoC Government apply to join the PfP, participate in the European Missile shield and apply to join NATO, even if this means that it will be vetoed by Turkey, giving the RoC a much needed diplomatic victory.

A new strategic partnership with Israel is a good start!

Who will do this ,Christofias?!!!!

[Gasman]

Lebanese didn't like Israeli planes violating their airspace.

1,740 Turks serving with ISAF/NATO for a start. I don't see any Cypriots or Maltese.

Yes and they are frequently mentioned and thanked for it.

What happened to the great hope of the EU kicking Turkey's arse out of Cyprus then? The avenging EU army?

Has this now changed to alliance with Israel and sod the EU?

How many Cypriots only wanted to be in the EU because they thought the EU would drive Turkey out of Cyprus? How many now wish they hadn't joined?

And the new found love for the US in alliance with Israel? lol! Five minutes ago the US was the embodiment of evil and the cause of all the problems in Cyprus (the UK said to only be doing the US bidding).

You can hardly keep up. A week in politics is said to be a very long time. A day or two on here is even longer!

Keep the Israelis out, we don't need their sort. Then support Israel and they will help us!

US responsible for the state of the country now. Then let's get them on our side!

One minute 'we are now all modern EUROPEANS' - next minute pissed off with all that came with being in the EU Club! And apparently astonished that as 'EU CITIZENS' not only would THEY have the freedom to live and work anywhere in the EU, but other EU Citizens would have that same right in Cyprus!

The UK one I've stated before - blamed for the ills of Cyprus - want all Brits out of Cyprus - want the SBAs kicked out. And those calling loudest for it are LIVING IN THE UK by choice! They've been 'living with the enemy' for as long as they can remember.

I can imagine what they'd be saying if all the Brits living abroad were calling for all the Greek Cypriots to be kicked out of the UK lol!

It's quite funny really.

[miltiades]

[quote="Gasman"



And those calling loudest for it are LIVING IN THE UK by choice! They've been 'living with the enemy' for as long as they can remember.

/quote]
Thats new to me !However my own opinion is that the British bases are financially beneficial to the Cypriot economy but the minute they are no longer financially rewarding they should be scrubbed .

[repulsewarrior]

dp

[repulsewarrior]

the British bases, because of their geographic position, have the potential of offering a world platform from which Cypriots can demonstrate their willingness to apply military strength for the betterment of Humanity. like the non-alligned movement, a middle way can be found so that by an alliance those caught between adversaries have a voice. hunger, disease, ignorance and natural disaster are greater enemies where soldiers fulfill a duty we are greatful for.

...supramilitarising, if you will, secures us from external threat.