Zypern

[Skywalker]

GREECE, TURKEY CANCEL EXERCISES


ATHENS [MENL] -- Greece and Turkey have agreed to cancel major military exercises meant to have taken place in Cyprus over the next month.

Greek officials said Athens has canceled the Nikiforos-Toxotis maneuvers in the Republic of Cyprus. The annual week-long exercise, also canceled in 2003, had been scheduled to begin on Oct. 19.

Nikiforos-Toxotis was meant to be the biggest exercise of the year on the island and test the capabilities of Greek and Cypriot militaries to repel a Turkish invasion of the Greek Cypriot republic. Officials said both Turkey and the United States pressed for a cancellation of the air and ground exercise.

In return, Turkey has pledged to cancel its Toros exercise. The annual exercise was to have comprised maneuvers by Turkey's air force, navy and army in and around the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

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