FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “TURKISH ARMY IS OUR SECURITY”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý pointed out that the presence of Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus is in accordance with the international treaties and said: “Turkish Army is our security and we won’t give any concession on this issue.”

Foreign Minister Avcý yesterday (5 November) received a delegation from the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Foreign Relations’ Commission headed by Murat Mercan at the TRNC Assembly.

Avcý pointing to the fact that just like the Turkish President, the President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Turkish Foreign Minister, the Foreign Relations Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly also paid its first overseas visit to the TRNC, said these visits have given support and strength to the Turkish Cypriot people.

Stressing that the Cyprus problem was a difficult struggle, Avcý said the 1974 Peace Operation had brought independence and freedom to the Turkish Cypriot people.

Explaining that they reached today with the help of Turkish soldiers and the fighters, Avcý said: “Turkish Cypriots are walking together with their Motherland towards a better future”.

Foreign Minister Avcý stated that despite the isolation was continuing, the interest shown by foreign invertors’ towards the TRNC and of foreign students to TRNC universities was creating unrest in the Greek Cypriot side. Avcý added that the TRNC Foreign Ministry would continue to work in harmony with Turkey and Turkish government.

For his part, the Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Commission Murat Mercan pointed out that Turkey was by the side of Turkish Cypriots.

Mercan stated that a settlement in Cyprus should be based on two peoples, two democracies and two states.

Mercan said the Grand National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Commission would always support the Turkish Cypriot people in the international arena.

Explaining that the Cyprus problem was a long and difficult case, Mercan said Turkey and Turkish Cypriot people would together reach better days.