Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides has denied Turkish media reports that his government was planning to purchase forty attack helicopters from Russia.
"I don't know of any helicopters. These are rumors," he told reporters at a conference in Istanbul aimed at bringing together European and Islamic leaders on various issues.
Cyprus recently accused Turkey of sending new weapons to the divided island, where Ankara has positioned around 30,000 troops, but the Turkish Cypriot administration has firmly denied the charge.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a Greek Cypriot coup inspired by the military junta then ruling in Athens. Only Turkey recognizes the administration in the Turkish Cypriot part of the island.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides have been meeting on a regular basis since January to try to end the stalemate on the island.
Their discussions are regarded extensively important, due to the need to find a solution before Cyprus completes negotiations to join the European Union (EU).
Cassoulides said he would not comment on what the two leaders were saying in their discussions, however, he did criticize Denktash for insisting on "conditions like the creation of two states in Cyprus, which does not make much sense."
Greek Cypriots want to reunify the island while Denktash has called for a two-state confederation as part of a solution.
Cassoulides said the talks were expected to last for many months but it should be clear by June whether progress was being made. He also said he wanted to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
"I have made appeals to Mr. Cem to meet him and discuss face to face a number of issues in order to dissipate misconceptions between us, but I'm afraid it's Mr. Cem who does not want to have such a meeting," he expressed.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry official conveyed there had been no request for such a meeting at this week's conference.
Turkey does not accept that the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government represents both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
