The appreciation that “if Turkey's accession to the EU proceeds, the problems in the Aegean will be solved within a week”, was expressed by the Head of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Hilmi Ozkok.

However, he underlined that Turkey must remain in Cyprus. “We want a Cyprus from which we cannot pull out and from where we can defend Turkey”, he mentioned characteristically.

He pointed out that “the Turkish Army supports Turkey's accession to the EU. We are confident that Turkey's accession will help strengthen the welfare state, economic growth, as well as the development of institutions, rules, and quality of life.”

In an interview to the “Eleftherotypia” newspaper, Mr. Ozkok insists on Turkey's claims in the Aegean, noting: “You cannot talk of good will, when Greece carries out actions violating the Lozanne Treaty, mainly the violation of the regime of demilitarization of the islands of the Eastern Aegean and when you are trying to legalize them with their participation in military exercises and NATO plans”.

“The FIR is one of the problems. There are still the issues of air space, ten or six miles, the demilitarization of the islands, and our aircrafts' flights in international air space. A web of problems”, he added.

The head of the Turkish Armed Forces also stressed that 2004 is not the final deadline for the solution of the differences via the International Court, but the date at which the European Council will examine the situation where there are pending differences”.