Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, strongly reacted to the threats made to Mayor of Beyarmudu, Huseyin Beyar, by Kernel Grosswith, the Commander of the UK Sovereign Bases in Dheklia, that ‘pro-Annan plan opposition parties must win the forthcoming December 14 general elections, otherwise, after December 14 Beyarmudu residents would encounter serious problems in the UK sovereign bases’.

Speaking to the Anatolian News Agency, Minister Ertugruloglu pointed out that this could not be accepted and because of temporary economic problems the Turkish Cypriot people would not betray their 40-year long cause, and the UK High Commission’s Officer responsible for Turkish Affairs and its Undersecretary had been called into the TRNC Foreign Ministry, where an official protest note had been handed to them.

Minister Ertugruloglu said: "It is not possible to express with words the ugly interference displayed by the bases Commander. What is pleasing about the incident is that without waiting for an official response from the authorities the residents themselves reacted".

Emphasizing that he hoped with this latest incident the US Ambassador and British authorities would realize that their evaluation of the Turkish Cypriot people was wrong, the Minister said: "People might complain about the government and the current situation, but they will not give up defending their state and nation. The Turkish Cypriots gave great sacrifices in their struggle for existence and they were rewarded with their state. At this stage, just because of temporary problems, the Turkish Cypriot people will not betray their 40-year old struggle, their history and their own future generations. We will not give any concessions, whatsoever, over our state, our Motherland, nation and flag. No force will be strong enough to eliminate the TRNC and separate us from Motherland Turkey".

According to information received from the TRNC Public Information Office (PIO), within the framework of celebrations marking the Turkish Republic’s 80^th anniversary and the 20^th anniversary of the TRNC’s establishment, "A Bicycle Tour of Sovereignty from Republic to Republic" will take place throughout the TRNC between 12-14 November 2003.

The first leg of the bicycle tour will start at the Dipkarpaz village at 10:00 am on 12 November, the second stage will be the Kyrenia-Famagusta tour on 13 November, and will end with the Kyrenia-Morphou-Nicosia tour on 14 November.