[01] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot represetnatives meet at Ledra Palace.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry "Regrets hostile EP Resolutions".

[03] Mehmet Ali Talat meets EU Ambassador.

[04] Denktash says Stltenberg not successful.

[05] Ferdi Sabit Soyer General Secretary of the RTP.

[06] Turkish IFOR contingency to be increased to brigade.

NEWS ITEMS

[01] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives meet at Ledra Palace

The meeting, which started at 10:40, was attended by Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Democratic Party Secretary General Serdar Denktash, Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci, leader Alpay Durduran and Rasif Keskiner from the New Cyprus Party, leader Ismet Kotak and Ozalp Gumus from the Free Democratic Party, Mehmet Barut and Sezal Sezgin from the National Birth Party, and Arif Salih Kirdag, Unity and Sovereignty Party leader.

The Greek Cypriot party officials present at the meeting were: Yiannakis Matsis from the Democratic Rally, Stathis Kittis, from the Democratic Party, Dimitris Christofias, Donis Christofinis and Vera Polykarpou from AKEL party, George Michaelides from the Unified Democratic Union of Cyprus, Nicos Rolandis from the Liberal Party, Michael Papapetrou from the Democratic Socialist Reform Movement, and George Vassiliou and Christos Kolotas from the Free Democrats Movement.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry "Regrets hostile EP Resolutions"

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel claimed at a news conference staged for foreign journalists that EP's January 18 dated resolution damaged the respectability and reliability of the parliament.

"The parliament could take seriously the so-called unilateral ceasefire of the separatist terrorist organization although this outlawed organization massacred a group of innocent civilians in a minibus attack last week", Akbel said.

Akbel also "expressed regret over the decision of European Parliament who also took seriously the false photographs given to Western media by the terrorist supporters."

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said Turkey expressed regret "over the hostile act of the parliament toward Turkey" which is a contemporary, democratic and secular country.

EP's resolution called for the new government which will be set up to maintain reforms on human rights and on democratization issues.

The resolution also called for constitutional arrangement to release former Democracy Party (DEP) Deputy Leyla Zana who was earlier arrested having links with the PKK.

[03] Mehmet Ali Talat meets EU Ambassador

After the meeting Talat told the journalists that he had told Ambassador Anouil that the Turkish Cypriots are very sensitive to the EU membership issue and that Cyprus should become an EU member as a whole, after the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

He further said that they discussed the joint Declaration issued last year following Denktash's meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.

Talat said that Mr. Anouil as well was of the opinion that Cyprus' entry into the EU prior to a settlement was impossible or at least very difficult. (MY)

[04] Denktash says Stoltenberg not successful

Denktash accused Stoltenberg of being inactive during conferences regarding former Yugoslavia, and of supporting Serbs who were shedding Bosnian Muslim blood. With this stance Mr Stoltenberg has disillusioned the Turkish Cypriots. "One cannot say that he has been successful", declared Denktash.

[05] Ferdi Sabit Soyer General Secretary of the RTP

[06] Turkish IFOR contingency to be increased to brigade

According to a statement issued by the Secretariat General of the Chief of the General Staff's Office, a mechanized infantry company, a tank company, an artillery battery, and an ammunition disposal team will join the Turkish force, which is currently deployed in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The mechanized infantry company of the Turkish brigade, which will be positioned in the area that is under the jurisdiction of the United States, will be responsible for the security of the IFOR Headquarters. In addition, an F-16 fleet currently positioned in Italy's Gedi base and a Turkish Navy frigate serving in the Adriatic Sea have been allocated to IFOR.