Greek Cypriots accuse Turkey of military buildup in northern Cyprus

NICOSIA (AFP) Jul 24, 2004
Cypriot Defence Minister Kyriakos Mavronicolas on Saturday accused Turkey of building up military forces in northern Cyprus at a time when Greek Cypriots are calling for demilitarization of the so-called "green line" dividing the Mediterranean island.

Mavronicolas said the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government would protest against the move, which he said would only increase tensions.

"The presence of a larger occupation force poses a specific danger to the Cyprus Republic, and this move doesn't seem to be linked to replacements (of weapons and troops)," Mavronicolas told reporters.

"This contributes to a further deterioration of the situation in Cyprus," he said.

Cyprus last Tuesday marked 30 years since Turkey invaded and occupied the island's northern third of the island following a 1974 Greek-engineered coup in Nicosia.

Mavronicolas said Ankara, which has maintained an average of 35,000 troops on the island, had deployed another 4,000, as well as artillery units and tanks.

"Based on the facts we have today, the occupation army exceeds 40,000 in number," the minister said.

Cypriot authorities say Turkey sent additional arms and troops to the north in January and February and the first 20 days of July.

The minister said Nicosia would lodge a formal protest to the relevant bodies over the alleged buildup.

Last week, the Greek Cypriots offered to disengage from Nicosia's Green Line, where troops from both sides are at their closest point along the UN-manned buffer zone splitting Cyprus, if Turkey does likewise.

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