Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-04-06

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 57/99 -- 6.4.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish defense minister against S-300 in Crete.

[02] Turkish Army´s agreements with various countries.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish defense minister against S-300 in Crete

Speaking to the paper´s correspondent Mehmet Remzi Gokhan on the various aspects of the Cyprus problem, National Defense Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that they would always oppose efforts to upset the strategic balance in East Mediterranean and would make no concessions in this regard.

Turk added claiming: ``Turkish analysis shows that these missiles would pose a threat to the TRNC and Anatolia. The actual intention in bringing those missiles to Cyprus was to change the existing military balances on the island and prevent Turkey from defending the TRNC from the air.

From the very outset we have been announcing from various platforms that we would take the necessary measures against moves aimed at altering the strategic balances in Cyprus specifically and in the eastern Mediterranean in general. The Greeks and Greek Cypriots backtracked in the face of Turkey´s firm position and decided to deploy the missiles in Crete. Even if deployed in Crete, it is clear that these missiles were purchased to be used against Turkey. The deployment of the S-300s in Crete would add to the problems between Turkey and Greece and heighten tension in the Aegean. Turkey is of the opinion that these missiles should not be brought to the region at all''.

Asked how he views the Greek Cypriots´ call on Turkey to agree to the demilitarization of the island in return for their decision not to deploy the S-300s in Cyprus, Turk replied: ``From the first day the S-300 crisis surfaced we in the Turkish side made our position extremely clear and announced from every platform that we would not enter into any negotiations on the matter. We indicated on every occasion that the deployment of S-300s on the island would be a mistake because it would change the balances and thus lead to further militarization. It was not our side that made a mistake. In short, expecting a concession or anything in return from the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey sounds illogical to us.''

[02] Turkish Army´s agreements with various countries

The TAF has concluded friendship and cooperation agreements with 29 countries, military training, and technical and scientific cooperation agreements with 20 countries; defense industry cooperation agreements with 15 countries, and military training cooperation agreements with 33 countries. It is working to conclude military training cooperation agreements with 18 other countries.

In the context of those agreements, Turkey has so far trained 1,800 military personnel from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. At present, 456 Azerbaijani, 212 Turkmen, 90 Kazakh, and 46 Kyrgyz military personnel are being trained at various military institutions in Turkey. Some 310 military personnel from Bosnia-Herzegovina, 222 from Albania, 120 from the ``TRNC'' and 56 from Georgia were trained in Turkey during the 1998-1999 academic year.

The following are the countries that have signed military training cooperation agreements with the TAF: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, France, South Korea, Gambia, Georgia, Croatia, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Hungary, F.Y.R.O.M, Kuwait, Malaysia, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Jordan, and Mali.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article