[01] Serge Abou says Turkey made no concessions on Cyprus.

[02] Talat discusses Cyprus issue with Australian Commissioner.

[03] ANAP Deputy Kalemli elected Turkish Assembly Speaker.

[04] Denktash meets new French Ambassador.

[05] Denktash: I accept demilitarization on condition that the guarantee agreement will remain.

NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serge Abou says Turkey made no concessions on Cyprus

According to Anatolia news agency (14:21 hours, 25.1.96) European Union (EU) Commission official Serge Abou said on Thursday that Turkey did not enter to Customs Union (CU) with EU sacrificing Cyprus. "Such allegations are nonsense and inconsequent," he added.

Abou, who is currently in Aegean Izmir Province as the guest of the Aegean Economy Development fund, told an Anatolia agency reporter that Turkey could not give up the customs union agreement adding that several forces in Turkey opposed to Turkey's customs union and several others had baseless allegations on the issue including the Cyprus issue.

"Turkey did not make concessions on Cyprus to enter to customs union," Abou said, adding: "Turkey's entrance is an economic relation while Cyprus is a political one." "These separate issues should be evaluated in different platforms."

Abou said the Cyprus problem could be solved by means of dialogue, it could not be solved within the framework of a trade agreement like the customs union.

[02] Talat discusses Cyprus issue with Australian Commissioner

According to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 24.1.96) Mehmet Ali Talat, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader, "State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister", met with Australian High Commissioner John Sullivan and conferred with him for some time. The meeting, which took place at the CTP Headquarters on Wednesday, was reportedly a courtesy visit.

In a statement after the meeting, Talat said that an exchange of views on the Cyprus issue was conducted with Sullivan. Talat remarked that Sullivan conveyed to him the sensitivity of the Australian Government concerning the solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. The CTP wants the Cyprus problem to be resolved the soonest in a bid to contribute to peace on the island and in the region, Talat explained, adding that he expressed this view during the meeting. Certain difficulties and differences with regard to the Cyprus issue were discussed during the meeting and the two sides represented their ideas in this regard, Talat said. He added that the subject of the Turkish Cypriots living in Australia was also raised with Sullivan.

[03] ANAP Deputy Kalemli elected Turkish Assembly Speaker

According to TRT television (16:00 hours, 25.1.96) Mustafa Kalemli, Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy from Kutahya, has been elected Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

[04] Denktash meets new French Ambassador

According to KIBRIS (26.1.96) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, had a meeting yesterday with France's new Ambassador to Cyprus Henry Jacolin.

Prior to the meeting Denktash told the journalists that the meeting was a courtesy call. (MY)

[05] Denktash: I accept demilitarization on condition that the guarantee agreement will remain

According to KIBRIS (26.1.96) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, speaking during a conference at the so-called Lefka University, declared that the pressure exerted on the Turkish side will be increased in the coming days.

He said that the traffic of visiting foreign diplomats has recently increased. He added: "We have become a train station".

Speaking on the various aspects of the Cyprus problem Denktash repeated his known views.

Referring to Mr. Holbrooke's forthcoming visit to Cyprus he said: "I believe that he will not have a solution formula in his pocket".

Denktash also answered questions put to him by the students. To a question Denktash replied: "Cyprus does not belong to the Turkish Cypriots only. From the point of its security, it is Turkey's problem as well; so, as a result, Turkey has rights and strategic interests in Cyprus".

When asked, "what will happen if the TRNC is recognized" Denktash replied: "We should not think Cyprus separately from Turkey and Greece: If this happens, bilateral or quadrilateral agreements will be concluded."

To another question Denktash said that in order to show to the Greek Cypriot side that because of the political and economic ties the Turkish Cypriots cannot be disassociated from Turkey, he urged Ankara to make speedy economic investments in the occupied area to this end.

To another question Denktash said that following RTP's taking part in the so-called coalition government, the party's views on the Cyprus problem have changed drastically. To another question, Denktash said that the basis for a settlement is: equality, sovereignty, bizonality and rotating presidency. " Our rights should be based, as in 1960, on sovereignty. We have established our state based on our sovereignty and partnership rights".

He alleged that the Turkish side had agreed for the EU membership after a federal settlement on condition that Turkish side's sovereignty and equality will be accepted and the guarantee agreement maintained. He further said that he had accepted demilitarization on condition that the guarantee agreement will remain. (MY)