LEFKOSA - Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman said on Monday that solution plan which the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented after being revised on December 10, 2002 revealed the danger of returning to 1963 clash atmosphere on the island. Yalman said, ''we evaluate that balance in the Mediterranean would be disturbed against Turkey, and there is the danger of removal of security atmosphere provided in East Mediterranean and on the island.''
Gen. Yalman arrived in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to visit the units of Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Command, and to participate in ''Peace 2003 Plan Seminar''.
Speaking at Gecitkale Airport, Gen. Yalman said he would meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and senior officials.
Gen. Yalman said ''Peace 2003 Plan Seminar'' was performed in TRNC with the participation of land, air and sea elements, underlining that a deterrent force was as much important element as good will in prevention of war.
Gen. Yalman said during the seminar, measures which have been taken and would be taken to deter possible threats aiming to disrupt peace and security atmosphere which was installed by Turkish Armed Forces and which continues on the island for 29 years without interruption, would be discussed.
Gen. Yalman stated that the talks, which started a year ago with the initiative of TRNC President Denktas and which still continue, aimed at a comprehensive solution which would take under guarantee the security, equality and sovereignty of Turkish Cypriot people, and consider Turkey's strategic interests in the Mediterranean and Turkish-Greek balance on the island.
Gen. Yalman said, ''however we evaluate that the revised solution plan, presented to the sides and guarantor countries by the U.N. Secretary General on December 10, 2002 may reveal the danger of returning to the 1963 clash atmosphere, and disruption of balance provided in Eastern Mediterranean against Turkey.''
Gen. Yalman said it was impossible to accept any solution which would end the security atmosphere on the Island and Eastern Mediterranean, which would put Turkish Cypriot people into the position of minority and which would cause Cyprus to return to 1974 clash atmosphere.
Gen. Yalman said that sides should not take into consideration artificial solutions, adding that ''a lasting and fair solution can be found on the island by taking as basis the de facto situation on the island and in East Mediterranean where peace is installed. If this is not the case, the East Mediterranean can be drifted into a permanent crisis.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriot administration continues its efforts of armament despite the negotiations which continue by the good intention of Denktas, Gen. Yalman said that ''yet we want everybody to know that the Turkish Armed Forces won't permit any approach which will disturb peace on the island and in East Mediterranean, the vested rights of Turkey will be protected, and it will continue to fulfill the requirements of its responsibilities on the island. Turkish Cypriot people won't return to their dark old days.''