Turk army chief: Opening of Ledra not a big step
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish army chief on Saturday welcomed the decision of reviving the peace talks in Cyprus but downplayed the significance of opening a crossing point in Ledra Street. He added a withdrawal of Turkish soldiers after any deal would not be swift.
"It is always beneficial to talk. Problems are always solved by talking," Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said in divided Nicosia when asked about last week’s agreement between Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to launch fresh peace talks. The negotiations, scheduled to start in June, will be the most concrete push to solve the Cyprus issue since 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN settlement plan while Turkish Cypriots accepted.       Â
"Everybody is talking about a just and lasting peace, but do we all mean the same thing?" he asked. "The authorities need to clearly detail the parameters of a just and lasting peace and explain their views to the public."
He said Turkey's military presence is the "guarantee" for peace in Cyprus, adding the troops would continue to patrol in the vicinity of Ledra crossing point, which is expected to be opened next week. "We will, under no condition, budge even a meter from the area we are responsible for," he added.
He underlined that the re-opening of the pedestrian street, blocked off for decades, would not mean a withdrawal of Turkish soldiers stationed inside a military zone near the crossing. "Opening of Lokmaci gate is not a big step towards fair and permanent peace; it is a gate. There are lots of gates in Cyprus. Lokmaci gate will be one of them," Buyukanit said.
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders agreed last week to re-open the Ledra crossing in a gesture of goodwill. The crossing point will be sixth in the island. Earlier this week, a UN team swept the area for explosives and Greek and Turkish Cypriot crews moved in to remove debris to make room for a paved walk-way.
Asked whether Turkish troops would withdraw if there is a peace deal, Buyukanit said a pullout would take place only after the army believes such an accord to be sound. "There is no such thing as pulling troops out tomorrow if there is a peace deal today," he said. "The army needs to observe and be fully convinced on how safe Turkish Cypriots are. Only then can this issue be considered."
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