General Basbug: We Cannot Make Any Concession From Our Legal And Vital Interests In Aegean

ISTANBUL - Turkish General Staff Deputy Chief General Ilker Basbug has said, ''we cannot make any concession from our legal and vital interests in the Aegean.''
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, ''any concrete progress could not be made to resolve problems in relations between Turkey and Greece. We cannot make any concession from our legal and vital interests in the Aegean in regard to use of international maritime belt and air space, security requirements, transportation and natural assets.''
''A lasting peace and stability can be provided only after finding fair and acceptable solutions to all problems. Like all other candidate countries, Turkey has to accept to resolve the Aegean dispute with Greece or submit it to the International Court of Justice. According to AGENDA 2000 and Helsinki decisions, solution to these problems are not the pre-conditions of opening of accession talks with the EU. The same documents say that such problems should be resolved before conclusion of full membership negotiations,'' General Basbug added.
(UK-AÖ) 27.05.2004