Erdogan hammers stake into the ground

[mrsgee]

just been watching BBC news and reading Cyprus Mail.......it seems Erdogan is flexing his muscles........'Turkey in Cyprus forever''.....interesting times ahead I think.

[jacob]

Pooh. Errrrrr, worrying times I would say.

[Hedge-fund]

I will hazard a guess that Turkish troops will form part of a UN force in a united island.....................therefore GCs can claim the Turkish army has left and the TCs can claim Turkish troops are in Cyprus................ Both sides get to claim "victory" ......................it's politics!

[AJay]

Erdogan has stated that Turkish troops will not be removed unless Greek troops are removed. So there is an option.

[David]

Wish he would sort out his economy !!!!

[DenizIsmail]

The best quote of the Century: "Which of the conflicts up to this day has the European Union managed to prevent?"
GO ON CAVUSOGLU! - Tell them that the EU Cannot be a Guarantor unless Turkiye is a Member of the Union first! Well Done!

[turtle]

Too many conflicting reports for me..... Erdogan says Turkish troops will never leave Cyprus, then a report says 10,000 troops will stay and then a report that a joint UN/Turkish peace keeping force will be in place and now Turkish troops will only leave if Greek troops leave.

Don't think any knows really.

[paul90]

According to LGC News:

Regarding security, Erdogan reiterated that the Greeks should not expect a guarantee without Turkish troops. He added that complete withdrawal for troops was out was “out of the question.”

Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, on the other hand, said on Friday that any deal to reunify Cyprus must include the withdrawal of the 30,000 Turkish troops from the island.

President Erdogan countered that Turkey and Greece could keep the previously agreed similar number of soldiers on the island, that is, 950 Greek troops to 650 Turkish troops.

Commenting on demands that all Turkish troops be withdrawn from the island, Erdogan said, “If such a thing is being thought of, then both of the sides need to pull all of their soldiers from there.”

Stating that the Geneva peace talks were a new negotiation process separate from the 2004 Annan Plan, Erdogan said Morphou (Guzelyurt) and Erenkoy (Kokkina) could be united and left to the Turkish Cypriot side, while the whole of Famagusta, including Varosha/Maras, could be given to the Greek Cypriots.

[jacob]

The 10.000 troops were part of a deal which Erdogan has rejected.

[turtle]

It just does not make sense ?.... The withdrawal of troops is "out of the question" but then says if such a thing is being sought then both sides should withdraw all troops.
Then says its possible to keep just 650 soldiers.

So which is it ?

[waz-24-7]

n my view Erdogan is the dictator on any solution.
Battleship Cyprus is in Turkey's back yard and the investment, financially and militarily is not a short term project for Erdogan.
The TRNC is too well entrenched into Turkish subsidies and support . The Indigenous TC , particularly those in Turkish funded employment or in non a non competitive market shy away from a settlement that may drive them into a competitive economic environment in which failure is very likely
I think there is unlikely to be any negotiation over numbers of troops. The Turkish military is here in force and none want to take them on. Besides, why would they? Peace prevails, there is not a war in progress. Two different communities are surviving together in relative peace. Prosperity is not so prevalent and this is the way forward. As time goes by the two sides are indeed very very slowly converging. Cross border trade and travel is on a slow but steady increase .Discussions over Verosha , Ercan direct flights and or other concessions will show willing, provide prosperity and once prosperity emerges for both sides then it will become self perpetuating and could be the driving force for a bi communal co existence that is equal in freedoms, representations and opportunity.