[01] Denktash meets Britain's Greenstock.

[02] Denktash leaves for Poland.

[03] Denktash comments on Greek Cypriot armament efforts.

[04] Turkish Cypriots protest UN for arrest of 3 Turks.

[05] Atun, Ismail Kocman discuss armament efforts on island.

[06] Turkey says accord with Israel not against Syria.

[07] Turkey's foreign trade deficit.

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[01] Denktash meets Britain's Greenstock

According to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 23.2.96) Rauf Denktash stressed once again the Turkish Cypriots' sensitivity about the system of guarantees. He alleged that the Cyprus problem was not created by the system of guarantees. He alleged: "The system of guarantees ensured that the Cyprus issue did not go in the direction desired by the Greek Cypriots, and it prevented the Greek Cypriots from purging the Turkish Cypriots from the island."

At noon last Friday Denktash met for the second time with Jeremy Greenstock, the British Foreign Office political director who has been appointed to hold contacts regarding the Cyprus problem. Present at the meeting were the "prime minister", the "state minister and deputy prime minister", the "minister of foreign affairs and defense", the "ministry under secretary" the "presidential aides" on political affairs, the British High Commissioner, the British Embassy under secretary, and the embassy official responsible for Turkish Cypriot affairs.

After the one-hour meeting, Denktash said that he stressed once again the sensitivity of the Turkish Cypriot side about the system of guarantees. He pointed out that Britain is one of the guarantor states, adding: "Britain must understand our sensitivity about retaining the system of guarantees, and I believe that it does." He claimed that it is not right to try to solve the problem by starting from the premise that the system of guarantees must be changed.

Asked what Britain's approach is to Cyprus' membership in the EU, Denktash said that all the countries that are interested in the Cyprus problem stress that the two sides must reach an agreement between themselves first. He said: "All concerned sides tell us that we must reach an agreement first, that it is impossible to admit to the EU a divided island where an agreement has not been reached. They tell us that we must try to reach an agreement."

Denktash alleged: "We, the Turkish Cypriots, want to reach an agreement. Therefore, we are not daunted."

Replying to another question, Denktash claimed that the Turkish Cypriot community's existence on the island as an equal community, its partnership in Cyprus' sovereignty, or the continuation of the guarantees agreement do not harm the Greek Cypriots. "These are truths that the Greek Cypriots could not destroy or take at gunpoint. We died to protect these truths. Therefore, they must appreciate these facts. If the Greek Cypriots really want a partnership, these facts will not harm them", he alleged.

Jeremy Greenstock said that he is holding contacts to refresh his information about the intercommunal problem in Cyprus, and to hear the views of the two sides on joining the EU and on the conditions for joining the EU. He said that within this framework he held a second meeting with Denktash.

Replying to a question on the EU, the British official said that his country prefers to have Cyprus become an EU member after a solution is reached on the island. He said that this is a strong preference, and that he will draw up a report on his contacts for Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, who feels a very close personal interest in Cyprus.

[02] Denktash leaves for Poland

According to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 25.2.96) Rauf Denktash has alleged that Greece is a state that bases all its policies on enmity toward the Turks.

Denktash left for Poland via Istanbul last Saturday. In a statement at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure for Poland, Denktash said that Turkey has so far been coolheaded about the "anti-Turkish" policy pursued by Greece. In reply to a question by a reporter on his assessment of the recent developments between Turkey and Greece, Denktash claimed: "Greece is a neighbour that bases all its policies on enmity toward the Turks. The moment it feels that Turkey is growing weaker or stronger, it behaves in a provocative and spoiled manner. Our hope is that Greece will realize as soon as possible that its interests lie in establishing ties of friendship with Turkey and will try to be friends with this estimable people. One cannot achieve anything through enmity. They will only wear themselves down."

Noting that Greece's "provocative and spoiled behaviour" will affect its kinsmen in Cyprus as well, Denktash added: "Voices are heard in Cyprus, too, in the wake of this spoiled behaviour on the part of Greece; however, one can hear different voices as well. They are saying that there is no point in bragging about bringing Greece's right to defense into Cyprus, because Cyprus will be put on automatic pilot in the event of a war between Turkey and Greece."

Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots are well aware of what the Greek Cypriots are capable of given the slightest chance, Denktash said that both Turkey and the pseudostate have taken the necessary measures against such a possibility.

Denktash said he is going to Poland on a private invitation, adding that he will hold contacts with media groups in this friendly country. Denktash concluded by saying that during his contacts he will speak of "the injustices the world has committed against the Turkish Cypriots during the past 32 years." He will return to the island on 29 February.

[03] Denktash comments on Greek Cypriot armament efforts

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 262.96) Rauf Denktash has been continuing to hold contacts in Poland where he is visiting on a private invitation.

Asked to comment during his contacts on the Cyprus government's receiving another 600 soldiers from Greece, Denktash said that the Greek Cypriots cannot compete with the Turkish Cypriots on the issue of soldiers and stressed: "We can bring 100 volunteers from Turkey to counter every mercenary from Greece." Denktash said that reason dictates that negotiations should resume and that solutions lie in friendship and discussions instead of the passion for armament.

Denktash continued: "We are safe where we are. Let God protect our nation and army and not deprive us of Turkey's guarantee." Denktash further threatened that it should be explained to Greek Cypriot leaders that it is futile for them to arm themselves and that the Greek-Greek Cypriot defense doctrine will not achieve anything but the sacrifice of south Cyprus if there is ever a war between Greece and Turkey.

[04] Turkish Cypriots protest UN for arrest of 3 Turks

According to TRT Television network (18:00 hours, 24.2.96) the pseudostate has reacted to the capture of three Turks by Greek Cypriot policemen while they were walking about in the Derinya region near Famagusta, and their subsequent mprisonment for three months.

In a statement, the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense" protested to the UN peace force. The statement claims that the arrests and the accusations are utterly invalid, adding: "We view the UN peace force's failure before the Greek Cypriot Administration in this case as a new and concrete sign of the weakness of the force -- which claims to play a role in the establishment and maintenance of peace on the island -- before the Greek Cypriot Administration."

The identity of the three Turks has been established. They are two brothers, Aydogan Kucuk and Davut Kucuk from Gaziantep, and Orhan Karadag from Ankara. They were sentenced to three months by the Cyprus Government for having entered the island through the Famagusta Port.

[05] Atun, Ismail Kocman discuss armament efforts on island

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 26.2.96) the so-called prime minister Hakki Atun has alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side has the right to take the necessary precautions in view of the "restiveness" displayed by the Greek Cypriot side, and its armament efforts. Atun met with Brigadier General Ismail Kocman, commander of the so-called security forces and conferred with him for some time.

In a statement during the meeting, Atun said that the Greek Cypriots are continually arming themselves within the framework of the Greek-Greek Cypriot defense doctrine and claimed that this is a dangerous course.

[06] Turkey says accord with Israel not against Syria

According to TRT television network (18:00 hours, 23.2.96) General Cevik Bir, deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff, has said that the aim of the military training and cooperation agreement signed with Israel is to increase stability in the region and to contribute to regional peace.

Gen. Bir ended a two-day visit to Israel and returned to Turkey last Friday. In a statement to an Anatolia correspondent at Esenboga Airport, he said that after the signing of the agreement, an implementation plan will be drawn up as soon as possible. He explained that under the agreement, the armed forces of the two countries will exchange officers and personnel, and delegations from certain military schools will pay mutual visits. He added: "Certain activities will be carried out to increase cooperation between the two countries armed forces. Our main consideration is that with this agreement we will be able to make greater contributions to regional peace and stability."

Replying to a question, Gen. Bir stressed that the agreement does not have any aims against Syria. He said: "Such a thing was absolutely not considered and cannot be considered. The real aim is to contribute to regional peace and stability. That is how it should be viewed. It does not have any special aims."

[07] Turkey's foreign trade deficit

According to CUMHURIEYT, (16.2.96) Turkey joined the customs union on 1 January with a gigantic deficit in its foreign trade. The State Statistics Institute (DSE) has disclosed that compared with the same period in 1994, Turkey's foreign trade deficit increased to total $12.150 billion from January to November 1995. Imports increased by 52.6 percent to total $31.390 billion and exports increased by 21.8 percent to total $19.239 billion. Exports stood at 76.8 percent of imports from January to November 1994. That figure decreased to 61.3 percent during the same period in 1995.

According to the DSE's disclosure, exports totaled $2.059 billion and imports $3.573 billion in November 1995. That indicated that compared with the same month in 1994, exports increased by 24.2 percent and imports by 59 percent. Exports stood at 57.6 percent of imports in November. The figure totaled 73.7 percent in November 1994.