LEFKOSA - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Thursday that he didn't see any possibility of Turkey's withdrawing soldiers from Cyprus under the existing circumstances.
When a reporter asked him the claims published in the Greek-Greek Cypriot press saying that Turkey would withdraw 5,000-6,000 soldiers from Cyprus, Denktas said that Turkey's sending or withdrawing soldiers was a decision to be given by Turkey.
Denktas said that ''I don't see such a possibility. The Greek Cypriot side continuously arms itself. As you know Turkey and Greece made an agreement not to exercise military manoeuvres. This shows a softening in relations, it is a good thing. We don't know if there is something behind it or not.''
Stressing that the strategic rights of Turkey on Cyprus were permanent, Denktas said that ''we are also permanent here.''
Noting that the Turkish-Greek balance on Cyprus had to be maintained, but Greek Cypriots applied to EU to disturb that balance, TRNC President Denktas said that ''they ask for our signature to disturb this balance. They are nervous when we don't give it. They made us the target.''
(ÖŞ-AY) 16.10.2003