LEFKOSA - General Isik Kosaner, who was newly appointed as the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus, met on Saturday with President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Parliament Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu after arriving in the TRNC earlier in the day.
Speaking at the meeting, President Denktas said, ''the General Staff appoints its most distinguished commanders to Cyprus. The Turkish Armed Forces has made great contributions to security and economy of the TRNC.''
President Denktas explained his views about the plan presented by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and stressed, ''they plan to destroy our state. People should protect their state in order to reach a healthy peace. The European Union membership will bring forth several economic problems. After Turkey's economic assistance comes to an end, nearly half of civil servants would be dismissed and some allocations such as social assistance to relatives of martyrs would be halted inevitably. Nobody is aware of the fact that we would face a serious crisis.''
(UK-MS) 16.08.2003