MGK meeting focuses on Cyprus negotiations
In a statement issued after the meeting, the General Staff said the Cyprus negotiation process was evaluated during the meeting. The statement said that the latest European Parliament report on Cyprus went against the established principles of the solution process, the existing UN framework and its parameters, the realities on the island and the rights of Turkish Cypriots, who are equal owners of the island, noting that the report and similar suggestions only served to harm the negotiation process and the possibility of reaching a permanent and fair solution.
The statement said the Turkish Cypriots could be forced to remain in a permanent impasse arising from the other side’s failure to reciprocate suggestions that were made by Turkish Cypriots early in January that had the potential to pave the way for a consensus.
It went on to say all sides at this stage had to fulfill their responsibilities. It also emphasized that Turkey was determined to continue to undertake its responsibilities to Turkish Cypriots in line with its rights and duties stemming from historic agreements.
The statement also said problems between Turkey and Greece regarding the Aegean Sea and Turkey’s legitimate and vital interests in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean region were discussed at the meeting. It noted Turkey’s willingness to solve its problems with Greece regarding the Aegean Sea while adhering to principles of neighborly relations, close cooperation and constructive dialogue.
The meeting took place shortly after a recording allegedly featuring the voice of Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ was posted on a Web site. In the recording, the voice says he had assigned a task to two military officers who were detained as part of an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç in December of last year. However, the nature of the duty assigned was not clarified in the recording.
Later in the evening, a statement from the General Staff confirmed that the speaker in the recording was indeed Gen. Başbuğ, noting that the speech was made during a visit to a foreign country.
Several Cabinet members, in addition to the president and the prime minister, attend MGK meetings. The military officers who are on the MGK include Gen. Başbuğ and the force commanders.
The meeting comes at a time of crisis between the government and judicial bodies -- the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Tension rose in Ankara after Erzurum Special Prosecutor Osman Sanal had Erzincan Chief Public Prosecutor İlhan Cihaner interrogated and arrested within the scope of the Ergenekon investigation, and the HSYK decided to strip Sanal and other prosecutors in Erzurum of their specially authorized powers. Ergenekon is a gang whose members, who come from various segments of society, are accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
A statement released after the meeting said the MGK discussed evaluations of recent developments that affect Turkey’s national security. The statement said the meeting emphasized Turkey’s determination to fight terrorism. The negotiation process in Cyprus was also taken up during the meeting, the statement said. Friday’s MGK meeting lasted four-and-a-half hours.
21 February 2010, Sunday
SUNDAY’S ZAMAN
21.02.2010
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