General Basbug: T.S.K. Believes That It Is Necessary To Find A Fair And Lasting Solution To The Cyprus Question Through Negotiations

ANKARA - General Staff Deputy Chief General Ilker Basbug has said, ''the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) believes that it is necessary to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus question through negotiations.''
Holding a press conference at the General Staff Headquarters on Friday, General Basbug said, ''TSK believes that it is necessary to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus question through negotiations. Necessary works have been continuing between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Staff to this end.''
''The view of the General Staff about the Cyprus question which we consider a national case, is developed with the contributions of commands of land, air and naval forces. This view has already been developed at two meetings held on December 19, 2003 and on January 2, 2004 with the participation of commanders of land, air and naval forces and commander of gendarme forces. The General Staff explained its view at the summit meeting held under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on January 8, 2004,'' he said.
General Basbug added, ''discussion of such a significant issue at the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to be held on January 23, 2004 is quite natural. I want to stress that we do not agree with different assessments on the issue.''
(UK) 16.01.2004