New Cyprus threat from Turkey
As Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash held their fifth face-to-face meeting in two weeks yesterday to discuss the island’s reunification, a top Turkish general said Turkey’s army supports the talks but will still take action if the outcome does not satisfy Ankara. During a visit to the Turkish-occupied north, Turkish land forces commander General Hilmi Ozkok said the Turkish armed forces support the direct talks. But he added that the Turkish military «has the strength and determination to carry out any duty it is allotted,» if the agreement struck on Cyprus does not envisage «equal sovereignty» for the Turkish-Cypriots, or if Cyprus enters the European Union before a solution is achieved. The news blackout was maintained after yesterday’s fifth meeting between Clerides and Denktash in Nicosia. The Cypriot government said another, unscheduled, meeting will be held today, to help speed up the process. «I can’t say more,» Sasson stressed. «This is still under investigation.»
