Greeks pledge to defend Cyprus against Turkey

The Greek Defence Minister, Mr Akis Tzohatzopoulos, yesterday reaffirmed in no uncertain terms the determination of Athens to meet its defence commitments to Cyprus under their three-year-old defence treaty.

"We will defend Cyprus as we defend Greece," he said, warning of an "apocalypse" if Turkey were to attack the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Tzohatzopoulos was speaking at the conclusion of annual autumn military exercises code named Nikiforos, involving both Cypriot and Greek troops, aircraft and naval vessels. The minister pledged to increase defence co-operation during the coming year and to fully support Cyprus in its application for EU membership which is due to come up for consideration early next year.

He dismissed Turkish threats to attack Russian S-300 ground-to-air missiles if and when they were deployed round the new military airbase being built near the port of Paphos.

"We [Greece and Cyprus] have an international guaranteed right to defend our sovereignty and to make arrangements for that defence," he said.

Greek warplanes and helicopters are expected to be stationed at this base under the joint "defence dogma".

Asked by The Irish Times for his reaction to a statement from Turkish Minister of State for Cyprus Affairs, Mr Sukru Sina Gurel, who said that Ankara had no intention "of playing at war" or of "increasing the tension" between Greece and Turkey over Cyprus, Mr Tzohatzopoulos responded: "Good. That's what we want to hear. We don't want to fight. We want peace. We simply want them to respect our right to exist and develop our countries to their full potential."

The Greek minister also welcomed a statement from Turkey's chief-of-staff, Gen Ismail Hakki Karadayi, who attempted to play down tensions raised by at least 100 incursions by armed Turkish warplanes into Greek and Greek Cypriot airspace since the Niki foros exercises began, including a Turkish attempt to buzz Mr Tsohatzopoulos's own transport plane over Cyprus on Sunday.

This year's war games were the largest ever staged in Cyprus and for the first time included Greek army units brought from the mainland to augment the small Eldyk force permanently stationed on the island.

The exercises ended with a parade in the coastal town of Larnaca. Cyprus put on display its latest acquisitions, including Russian T-80 tanks and French AMX tanks and armoured troop carriers.

Over the past five years, both Cyprus and Greece have made large-scale arms purchases with the intention of deterring the Turkish army, which occupied the northern third of the island in 1974, from advancing into the south of the island controlled by the Greek Cypriots.

UN-brokered talks on the reunification of the island broke down last month because of the refusal of the Turkish Cypriot side to negotiate on a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

The UN effort has been suspended until after the Greek-Cypriot presidential election in February when it is hoped the two sides will agree to return to the negotiating table.