17/9/2018
Turkish daily Yeni Şafak newspaper 17.09.18, https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-kktcye-us-kurabiliriz-3396105) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey will increase its military presence in Cyprus and it also may establish a naval base. Under the title “President Erdogan: We may establish a base in the TRNC”, the paper writes that during his return flight from Azerbaijan Erdogan responded to a question regarding a so-called allegation published in the “western press” that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) want to establish a permanent naval base in the occupied northern part of Cyprus. Reportedly Erdogan stated:
“Our presence there is important. They say we should reduce the number of our troops there! Excuse me, but we will not reduce the number of our troops, we will increase it. And if we feel the need, we may establish a base.
They do not listen. If they listened, we would have solved this case with Kofi Annan. What they have promised in the referendum and what they did? We said yes and they said no. They took them in the EU and left us outside. We will announce the recipe which we will implement there from now on”.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Yeni Akit newspaper (17.09.18, https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/haber/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-mesaji-verdi-us-kurabiliriz-517661.html) refers to the same statements under the title “President Erdogan has given the message! We may establish a naval base”. The paper writes that Erdogan said, inter alia, the following: “We do not have a problem as regards a base in the TRNC. Reaching there from our lands, reaching Eastern Mediterranean is a matter of minutes. Greece, however, has not such proximity. There is only the psychological aspect of this issue. From this point of view, if we feel the need, we may establish a base. […]”
Turkish Hürriyet Daily News (17.09.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-increase-troops-in-turkish-cyprus-136917) refers to the issue under the title “Turkey to increase troops in Turkish Cyprus” and reports that Erdogan said that Turkey does not have plans to establish a military base in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus but the Turkish Armed Forces will increase its deployment of troops there”. “We do not need to establish a base there”, he argued, “the issue is about psychology and Turkey will take such a step if needed in psychological terms”.
ΠΗΓΗ:https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/επισκοπηση-τουρκοκυπριακου-και-τουρκικου-τυπου-αρθρο.html?id=171
