[01] Denktash claims House of Representatives' resolution completely wipes out peace basis.

[02] Denktash chairs meeting to discuss current situation.

[03] Turkey claims EU statement on Greek-Turkish ties is unacceptable.

[04] The occupied area left without electricity.

[05] EU's Lord Finsberg meets Atun, Talat, others.

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[01] Denktash claims House of Representatives' resolution completely wipes out peace basis

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (16:30 hours, 9.2.96) Rauf Denktash has said that the resolution unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives in connection with the Cyprus issue closely concerns the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, and it will be properly and speedily assessed. He said that after the resolution is assessed, he hopes that the so-called Republican Assembly will agree on a document regarding certain minimum conditions. He added: "In this way, the entire world will clearly see what the issue here in Cyprus is."

In a statement he issued on the matter, Denktash claimed that the first article of the Greek Cypriot resolution, which addresses human rights and freedoms, aims at eliminating basic rights and principles.

Denktash said that the resolution says: "The solution to be reached in Cyprus must not legitimize situations that run counter to European law and principles; it must abide by these principles." Denktash stressed that the meaning of this should be well understood. He claimed: "When they say that situations that run counter to European law and principles will not be legitimized, the Greek Cypriots mean that they want a solution that will not grant founding rights to the Turkish Cypriots, will cancel the guarantee agreement, and will eliminate bizonality and the borders."

Denktash also claimed that President Clerides announced that this is the reason why he wants to join the EU. Therefore, when membership in the EU is mentioned, we are extremely careful and do all we can, resist as much as we can, in order not to fall into this Greek Cypriot trap," as he put it.

Denktash further alleged that the sixth article of the resolution, which speaks of the need for a communication mobilization, really means attacking all those who listen to the Turkish Cypriots and preventing them from being heard.

Denktash expressed the hope that the Turkish Cypriot political parties will well assess the unanimous adoption of this resolution "which completely eliminates the basis for peace", he claimed.

[02] Denktash chairs meeting to discuss current situation

According to ilelgal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 8.2.96) the latest situation and developments concerning the Cyprus issue were reassessed at a meeting held at the so-called presidential residence last Thursday.

The meeting chaired by Rauf Denktash lasted about 90 minutes. It was attended by the leaders of parties represented at the so-called Assembly. The participants agreed that membership in the EU should take place only after a solution and claimed that the Greek Cypriots are not interested in a conciliation, and that this is why they are avoiding negotiations.

Denktash did not make a statement after the meeting. The first comment came from Hakki Atun, Democratic Party leader and "prime minister". He pointed out that the diplomatic initiatives regarding the Cyprus problem have been intensifying, adding that during these initiatives Cyprus' membership in the EU is being raised as well. He said that Lord Finsberg asked the Tukrish Cypriot side for a document containing its view. He added that the contents of this document were shown to the party leaders at the meeting. Atun said that he observed with pleasure that as a result, there is a certain understanding and harmony among the parties. It emerged as a definite view that once there is a solution, membership in the EU can be discussed.

Atun explained that the participants discussed domestic issues and relations with Turkey in a very sincere atmosphere. All the party leaders discussed what can be done given the realities in the occupied area.

[03] Turkey claims EU statement on Greek-Turkish ties is unacceptable

According to TRT Television Network (11:00 hours, 10.2.96) Turkey has described the recent statement issued by the EU Commission on Turkish-Greek relations as "an unfortunate attitude which cannot positively contribute to the solution of bilateral relations."

In reply to a question, Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said that Turkey resents the fact in its statement, which was issued by pushing the limits of its authority, the EU Commission expressed solidarity with Greece. Akbel claimed that this statement was formulated on the basis of the fact that one of the sides is an EU member, without seriously analyzing the situation.

[04] The occupied area left without electricity

According to illegal Bayrak radio (6:00 hours, 11.2.96) the entire occupied area was left without electricity yesterday morning due to a breakdown in the so-called Teknecik power station.

According to information obtained from the "Electricity Corporation" duty engineer, the 60-megawatt steam turbine of the power station broke down for unknown reasons. The duty engineer said that the whole of the region was left without electricity because the other gas turbines and stations were not operating; he added that technical units are working to determine the cause of the breakdown and repair it.

The duty engineer said that it is not a question of a shortage of fuel oil and that electricity will be restored to all regions once the engine trouble is repaired.

Meanwhile, the so-called Council of Ministers announced that the problems concerning fuel oil were eliminated through measures taken and that searches for a thorough solution to the electricity problems were proceedings.

[05] EU's Lord Finsberg meets Atun, Talat, others

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 8.2.96) Lord Finsberg, Council of Europe Political Affairs Committee rapporteur, continued his contacts in the occupied area. He met with Ayhan Halit Acarkan, "speaker" of the so-called Assembly, Hakki Atun, leader of the Democratic Party and "prime minister", Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party, "state minister and deputy prime minister", Dervis Eroglu, leader of the National Unity Party, Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Communal Liberation Party, and Enver Emin, leader of the National Birth Party.

In a statement during his meeting with Lord Finsberg, Acarkan said that he believes that at the point it has reached today, Lord Finsberg will see the realities of the Cyprus problem on the spot, draw up an impartial report, and as in the past, will continue to make efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Atun said at his meeting with the EU rapporteur that Lord Finsberg is trying to enable a solution of the problem. He said that Lord Finsberg is continuing to make impartial efforts to ensure that the Turkish Cypriots are represented in Europe.

He added that other politicians who are interested in the Cyprus problem should also approach the problem impartially and view the two sides equally.

Before his meeting with Lord Finsberg, Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot side must keep on explaining the interests and desires of the Turkish Cypriot community to Council of Europe officials. He said that within this framework, he views Lord Finsberg's visit as a positive step. He said that he hopes Lord Finsberg will see the realities in Cyprus and cite the problems in his report. He added: "We hope that Lord Finsberg's report will encourage the solution of the Cyprus problem, and the membership of a problem-free Cyprus in the EU."

Dervis Eroglu thanked Lord Finsberg for treating the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot party leaders equally at the Brussels meetings. He also pointed out that Lord Finsberg is a politician who is familiar with the Cyprus problem and who makes efforts for the solution of the problem.

At his meeting with the EU rapporteur, Mustafa Akinci recalled that the Cyprus report that Lord Finsberg drew up earlier had great repercussions and that the Greek Cypriots had complained about it.

Akinci stressed that all those who want to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem must treat both sides equally. He said that he conveyed to Lord Finsberg the views of his party in connection with the report he will be drawing up.

In his speeches during these visits, Lord Finsberg said that his contacts constitute a preliminary preparation for his report. He stressed the importance of being able to achieve a face-to-face meeting between Rauf Denktash and President Clerides. At the initial stage, he said, this meeting must be held without preconditions.