Turkish army chief concerned over Cyprus peace talks

"The talks will start but we must be very careful. I have some personal concerns", the General Chief Staff Yasar Buyukanit said during a reception in Ankara.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias last week set September 3 as the date to begin direct negotiations to end the Cyprus issue.   Â

Buyukanit said Turkey supports the solution of Cyprus issue but this must be fair and lasting. "Turkish Cypriots must be very careful. There could be peace, but it should be fair and lasting. Those two concepts must be fulfilled. We say this but we don't do this. This is very important."

He also said Turkish troops were in the island for the security of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

"If the island is living in peace since the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974, this is because of the Turkish Armed Forces," Buyukanit was quoted by the state-run Anatolian Agency as saying.

Reunification talks in the island have been deadlocked since 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. reunification blueprint in a referendum, in which Turkish Cypriots approved the so-called Annan plan. Cyprus has been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots forced to withdraw into enclaves.Â

Photo: DHA