Turkey Warns May Withdraw Forces from Bosnia Over Cyprus EU Presidency

January 7, 2012 | Filed under: Geopolitics

Turkey has warned that it may withdraw part or all of its forces from Bosnia as Cyprus undertakes some of the duties of Denmark’s EU presidency, including the EU Security and Defense Policy, said Turkish-Cypriot officials.

Denmark, the current EU presidency, does not participate in the European Defence Agency (EDA), and has appointed Cyprus to preside over this aspect as of the beginning of the year.

The row now threatens to escalate over Turkey’s continuing refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus as the island’s official government. Ankara has already said it will freeze relations with the EU during Cyprus’ presidency.

According to the ‘TRNC’s’ statement, the scope of the government’s authority will include EU peace-keeping forces in Bosnia, where Turkey also has troops stationed after NATO’s intervention in the 1990′s.

“Turkey is now considering to withdraw its military force from the region or to keep the number to minimum,” say ‘TRNC’ officials.

There has been no immediate response from the government, which is set to take over the EU presidency in the second half of 2012.