ANKARA–According to Marmara Newspaper–the Turkish National Security Council has announced that Turkey will not make concessions on the Cyprus issue as long as the international community continues to not recognize the existence of two independent and equal governmen’s on the island. The statement was made during the Council’s session on Tuesday–in response to growing pressure on Turkey from the European Union and various international bodies.
The Council–which is under the control of the Turkish military–said that the balance in the eastern Mediterranean will be shaken if Cyprus is admitted as a full EU member. Ankara will provide more assistance to the economy of the occupied section of the island.
It was also stressed by the Council that the Greeks have been trying to turn Cyprus into a Greek island over the past 37 years. However–the fact is that today there exists two self-ruling equal governmen’s–claimed the Council. Turkey feels responsible for defending the interests of Turkish Cypriots–said the Council. During the session–it was decided to provide the unrecognized Turkish government in the occupied northern part of the island with $90 million in assistance.
Despite its protests and warnings–Turkey is worried because the European Union plans on making Cyprus a full member in 2003. Meanwhile–Turkey has not met the requiremen’s for entering negotiations on its accession to the EU.