Tag: mesut yilmaz

  • Cyprus House President: the only problem in our region is Turkey

    Cyprus House President: the only problem in our region is Turkey

    TURKEY is an expansionist state conspiring against the interests of Hellenism, President of the House, Yiannakis Omirou, stated today, adding that both the European and international community must realize as soon as possible that the problem lies in Turkey, who is a destabilizing factor.

    12 28 2011 4 05 33 PM 1905114

    Speaker of the House at the same time wished that the hydrocarbon reserves located in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are of good quantity and quality, to strengthen the struggle for a proper solution of the Cyprus problem.

    In statements to the Press, after he had visited earlier today “Michalakis Parides” military camp, Omirou said that the Turkish threat is present, threatening the historic continuation of Hellenism in Cyprus, and for as long as occupation and Turkish threat exist, Greece and Cyprus must jointly confront Turkey, for the future of Hellenism.

    He expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to Greek officers, permanent staff and soldiers serving in Cyprus. Omirou indicated that Greece’s military presence in Cyprus is based on the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, but blood ties, as well as historical, religious and linguistic ties linking Cyprus to Hellenism are much more powerful than any contractual obligations.

    Turkey’s expansionism threatens Hellenism in general, as revealed by Turkey’s former Foreign Minister Mesut Yilmaz who said that Turkish secret agents set forest fires in Greece during 1990s, in an attempt to destroy the country’s natural resources and wealth, Omirou said.

    “We do not wish to maintain bad relations with Turkish people on the contrary we want friendly relations. But we must realize that the prevailing state of affairs in Turkey, unfortunately, still maintains an expansive state, conspiring against the interests of Hellenism”, House President underlined.

    Omirou expressed Cyprus’ full support to Greece’s attempts to face the economic crisis prevailing in the country. — Copyright © Famagusta Gazette 2011

    via Cyprus House President: the only problem in our region is Turkey.

  • Greece Asks Turkey to Clarify Yilmaz’s Comments on Forest Fires

    Greece Asks Turkey to Clarify Yilmaz’s Comments on Forest Fires

    By Natalie Weeks

    Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — Greece asked Turkey to clarify press reports that former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said some Greek forest fires were deliberately set by Turkey’s secret service.

    “As long as this information remains unclarified, it poisons public opinion and undermines efforts to build relations of trust,” Greece’s Foreign Ministry said in e-mailed statement today.

    A Greek Supreme Court prosecutor requested that cases on forest fires from 1995 to 1997 be reopened, Athens-based news site 24h.gr reported today, without citing anyone. That followed a Turkish newspaper report, repeated in the Greek press yesterday, that quoted Yilmaz as saying Turkey’s secret service had sparked the blazes, especially on eastern Aegean islands, 24h.gr said. Calls to the Supreme Court by Bloomberg outside regular operating hours weren’t answered.

    “The issue is completely distorted,” Yilmaz told Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency today. “I was referring to forest fires in Turkey. There was some speculation and information that large forest fires in 1990s were related to Greek secret services, and I said unless they are proven to be facts, publishing that information would be very wrong in terms of our relations with Greece.”

    Greece experiences frequent forest fires during the summer months. Some are deliberately lit to clear land for building. Fires killed 65 people in 2007.

    “Regardless of Mr. Yilmaz’s attempts to reformulate,” the Foreign Ministry said, “we asked that these statements and other public references that have seen the light of day in the past be investigated and that Greece be informed of all relevant information.”

    –With assistance from Ercan Ersoy in Istanbul. Editors: Jim Silver, Leslie Hoffecker

    To contact the reporter on this story: Natalie Weeks in Athens at nweeks2@bloomberg.net

    To contact the editor responsible for this story: Angela Cullen at acullen8@bloomberg.net

    via Greece Asks Turkey to Clarify Yilmaz’s Comments on Forest Fires – Businessweek.