Greek Cypriot Administration Continues Armament

LEFKOSA (A.A) - 14.07.2002 - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu said on Saturday that the Greek Cypriot administration continued armament which contradicted with the efforts of compromise.
Ertugruloglu defined the flying of a M1-35 type Russian attack helicopter of the Greek Cypriot administration during the funeral of RMMO Commander Evangelos Florakis as the continuation of armament of the Greek Cypriot administration.
''The path that the Greek Cypriots are following is not the path of compromise,'' Ertugruloglu said.
Ertugruloglu noted that ''the international community was encouraging the aggression of the Greek Cypriot administration instead of encouraging their compromise.''
All these attempts should be ended, Ertugruloglu stated. Otherwise, he said, despite the good will and initiatives of the Turkish side, it would not be possible to reach a compromise between two nations and states in Cyprus.
Calling everybody to common sense, Ertugruoglu said, ''this is the indicator that the Greek Cypriot administration, which is spoilt by the international community as it is treated as 'the government of Cyprus', is sitting at the table as a necessity of tactics and that it does not have any intention for a compromise based on mutual respect and recognition.''
Ertugruloglu pointed out that the attitude of the Greek Cypriots was not in parallel with the compromise efforts and did not have any positive contributions to face-to-face meetings.
''This is the clear indicator that the armament policy of the Greek Cypriots continue and will continue,'' Ertugruloglu said.
Evaluating the recent resolution of the United Nations (U.N) Security Council about Cyprus question, Ertugruloglu said that this resolution once more encouraged the Greek Cypriot administration, which had been spoilt with an illegal status for years.
Ertugruloglu added, ''all these indicate this. If there is to be a compromise between two sides and states in Cyprus, this can be possible by a review of the attitude of the international community towards Cyprus question. If this is not done and in case the Cyprus policy which has been continued for years despite all realities of the island is kept on the agenda insistently by the international community, the Greek Cypriot administration will continue its intransigent and aggressive attitude. Thus, it will be encouraged to behave this way and of course, the chance of a compromise in Cyprus will end.''