Turks’ Cyprus policy to stay
Turkish PM Bulent Ecevit made his first public appearance in 10 days yesterday and vowed he would not resign because of ill health. He also made it clear that Turkey would not soften its stand on Cyprus. His comments came at a time of heightened diplomatic activity, on the day British mediator Lord Hannay arrived in Cyprus for talks with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli warned on Friday that his extreme right MHP party would not accept a Cyprus deal that favored the Greek side as the island prepares for EU accession. «The Cyprus question is not an issue for the EU,» Ecevit said. «Everybody knows that we will not accept any solution that will put the rights of Turkish Cypriots in a difficult situation… I believe that there will not be a problem with the MHP in this respect.» Turkey’s other deputy PM, Mesut Yilmaz, told Ta Nea on Saturday: «The Greek-Cypriot administration’s accession to the EU would endanger peace and stability in the region.»
