Sunday, 27 November 2005* Toros military exercise enters final day with demonstrations
Lefkosa - The Toros military exercise of the Turkish Cypriot Military Forces ended on Friday with commando training and demonstrations.
In accordance with the Toros-2005 exercise, the Turkish Cypriot Military Forces successfully carried out various activities such as destroying practice targets, raid and assault tactics, and climbing and shooting courses.
Watching the drill were Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat, former President Rauf Denktas, Parliament Speaker Fatma Ekenoglu, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Aydan Karahan, Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas, Military Forces Commander Hasan Memisoglu, Security Forces Commander Tevfik Ozkilic and other high-ranking commanders, ministers and deputies, and civilians and students.
President Talat said that the aim of the exercise was to restore peace on the island. "However, of course, it's necessary to be ready for the worst possibility," he added.
The Toros military exercise was launched in response to last month's Nikiforos military exercise by the Greek Cypriots.
Since 2001, both sides had committed to a moratorium on military exercises and had canceled them to avoid raising tension between Greek Cyprus and Turkey.
In a break from past military exercises, Turkey, which maintains some 40,000 troops on the island, this year did not participate in the Toros exercise for the first time.
The Greek Cypriot military carried out the Nikiforos military exercise last month with Russian-made attack helicopters, making their first showcase in large-scale maneuvers.
The New Anatolian, JTW
27 Nov. 2005 |
Sunday, 27 November 2005
Turkish Cyprus
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