Recent Developments In Middle East Have Increased Importance Of Cyprus For Turkey

ISTANBUL - Turkish General Staff Deputy Chief General Ilker Basbug has said, ''recent developments in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East have increased importance of Cyprus for Turkey in regard to security of kinsmen living on the island and Turkey's national interests.''
Speaking at a symposium held by the General Staff Department of Military History and Strategic Studies in Istanbul on ''Regions of Crisis from the Perspective of Turkey, NATO and European Union (EU) and Their Impacts on Turkey's Security'', General Basbug said on Thursday, ''Some circles explain the relation between Cyprus and Turkey's security under the geographical distance. This relation is not superficial at all since it is linked to protection of our rights and interests in Eastern Mediterranean.''
''It was revealed in the referendums on April 24 that the Turkish Cypriot side was not the reason of insolubility on the island. The Cyprus issue should not be considered an obstacle in front of Turkey's European Union (EU) membership any longer. Greek Cypriot people's attitude in the referendum has revealed that reaching a lasting, fair and sustainable solution on the island became quite harder,'' General Basbug added.
(UK-AÖ) 27.05.2004