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Turkish Security Council firm on Cyprus, pledges all-out fight against terror |
21 June 2007ANKARA - The political leadership and the military yesterday underlined firmness in the fight against terrorism, saying Turkey would take whatever measures are necessary to deal with the threat without compromising on the principles of the rule of law and democracy.
A statement released after a regular meeting of the influential National Security Council (MGK), which brings together top political leaders and military commanders, said measures to cope with "separatist terrorism that aims at the unity of the Republic of Turkey, its integrity, the security of the nation and the right to life" were reviewed extensively.
"It was confirmed that steps required in this fight will be taken together with our nation and that the threat will be overcome with determination and on the basis of democracy and the principle of the rule of law," said the statement. "It was emphasized that whatever measures are necessary will be taken irrespective of what the circumstances are."
The MGK meeting came after heated debates over a cross-border operation in Iraq to hit bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) there. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar B+-y+-kanıt has said an operation was both necessary and would be useful, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said such an operation would be a measure of last resort, saying the fight must focus on inside Turkish territory first.
The statement released after the meeting is also a warning for the Greek Cypriot administration, which launched an international licensing round for offshore exploration of oil and gas in February in spite of opposition from Turkey, which has warned the move could stoke tensions in the region.
A full member in the European Union, Greek Cyprus is also blocking possible EU steps to effectively ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. The statement said the MGK meeting reviewed development concerning Cyprus and underlined that it was unacceptable that "unjust restrictions on the Turkish Cypriots remain" despite their support for a solution of the deep-seated problem. The MGK chided the Greek Cypriot administration for acting as an "element of instability" and said its attempts to take steps on behalf of the entire island were "invalid."
In reference to the dispute over oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, the statement said Turkey's efforts to protect its rights and interests in the region would continue and added that Ankara was firm in providing all kind of support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), without elaborating.
Turkey opposes agreements that the Greek Cypriot administration has signed with Lebanon and Egypt over maritime borders to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Some estimates suggest that the seas around Cyprus could contain unproven reserves of between 6 and 8 billion barrels of oil with an estimated value of $385 billion.
Turkey has warned the two Arab countries not to proceed with the deals, saying that it also had rights and interests in the area. Ankara also insisted that the Turkish Cypriots should have a say in the island's oil and gas rights. Greek Cyprus has said that American, Chinese and Russian companies have shown interest in the international licensing round for offshore exploration in.
21 June 2007 |
21 June 2007
MGK
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