Turkey dismisses Greek Cypriot confidence-building measures

The Greek Cypriot proposal envisages a limited Greek Cypriot military withdrawal from the cease-fire line dividing the Mediterranean island, provided Turkish forces in the occupied north pull back as well.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan described the Greek Cypriot proposal as a move to alter the venue of discussions in the international arena on the future of Cyprus. He said the Greek Cypriot move was aimed at halting efforts by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) to bring an end to the economic isolation of the northern third of the island.

KKTC Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat had earlier said the offer was misleading as the same result would have been achieved if the Greek Cypriots had accepted a U.N. power-sharing blueprint when it was offered to them last April.

But the Greek Cypriot proposal was welcomed by Washington. "We would welcome any and all mutually agreed steps that can reduce military tensions in Cyprus," U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a press conference in Washington late last week.

"We’re always looking for ways to provide both communities on the island with a greater sense of security," Boucher added.

Boucher also said the United States has been urging Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot forces to cancel military exercises set for the fall as they have done now for several years in a row.

But the spokesman added that military confidence-building measures are no substitute for the comprehensive U.N. plan that would have reunified the island. The Greek Cypriots rejected the measure in a referendum in April.