[01] Denktash defends Grey Wolves, attacks Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press.

[02] Turkish labour union to occupied area for executive board meetings.

[03] Turkish envoys to Middle East countries convene to discuss policy.

[04] Inal Batu: No change in Turkey's Cyprus policy.

No.156/96 30.8.96

[01] Denktash defends Grey Wolves, attacks Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press

YENIDUZEN (30.8.96), reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in an attempt to clear the notorious Grey Wolves of their atrocities and barbaric crime at Dherinia, has claimed that the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot press "wrongly" handled the issue and "provided material for the Greek Cypriots".

He alleged that the terrorist grey wolves used to come to the occupied area every year for the 15 August "celebrations". Denktash claimed once more that only 150 Grey Wolves arrived in the occupied area despite the revelation made by the Grey Wolves chairman that "3000 idealists landed to Cyprus to face the Greek Cypriot motorcyclists" (see Turkish Press Bulletin 152 /96 dated 24-25-26.8.96).

Denktash further added that "Reporting that the incidents started by 150 people, who arrived here for the celebrations and who stopped the Greek Cypriots and pushed them back and reporting that they have killed the Greek Cypriots, is wrong. I cannot understand how could we do this harm to ourselves, how could we undermine the truth."

He claimed that the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press should "correct" this "mistake". (MY)

[02] Turkish labour unions to occupied area for executive board meetings

According to Turkish Daily News (29.8.96) in a display of solidarity with the Turkish Cypriot side, two of Turkey's biggest labour confederations will be holding executive board meetings in the pseudostate.

The Hak-Is executive board met yesterday in Nicosia while the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is) executive board will meet in occupied Kyrenia on Friday.

Turk-Is President Semsi Denizer said that his organization deplored the "attacks" against the "TRNC" and said he would visit Rauf Denktash and Dervis Eroglu to convey Turk-Is support.

The Turk-Is board meeting will plan for the pay bargaining for 690,000 Turk-Is affiliated workers in 1997.

The Hak-Is confederation's education representative Yusuf Engin said that they would organize a peace panel in the occupied part of Nicosia on September 1 on the occasion of World Peace Day.

Engin said that Hak-Is wanted to attract the attention of the world public to Cyprus. He added that the executive board would visit Rauf Denktash and Dervis Eroglu and others.

[03] Turkish envoys to Middle East countries convene to discuss policy

According to TRT (12:00 hours, 29.8.96) Turkey's Middle East policies and the recent developments in the region are being discussed in Ankara. The Turkish ambassadors to Beirut, Cairo, Kuwait, Sanaa, Damascus, Baghdad, Manama, Tel Aviv, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Tehran, Doha, Riyadh, Tripoli, and Muscat met yesterday under the chairmanship of Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Onur Oymen.

Replying to reporters' questions before the meeting, Oymen said that all the aspects of Turkey's relations with the regional countries will be discussed and the recent developments in the Middle East will also be reviewed. Asked if the discussions will include the defense industry cooperation agreement signed with Israel, Oymen responded: All subjects are on our agenda.

Similar meetings were held in Ankara some time ago with Turkey's ambassadors to the EU and Balkan countries.

[04] Inal Batu: No change in Turkey's Cyprus policy

Exclusive interview given to KIBRIS (30.8.96) by Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy under secretary Ambassador Inal Batu: "Question: Is there any change as regards the Cyprus policy of the new Turkish government compared to the earlier period? Could you tell the Turkish Republic's Cyprus policy? Batu: There is no question of any change regards the Cyprus policy of the new government. Cyprus is a national cause. Question: How would you evaluate the idea of bringing together Turkish and Greek Cypriot commanders? If this is realized could partial demilitarization on the island be on the agenda? Batu: From the beginning, Greek Cypriots have had a game to play and that is occupation. For this reason they are using every available opportunity to establish direct contact with the Turkish officials. They try to bypass the TRNC. Again, they want to play the same game. Regarding this issue, the commander of the National Guard, who is at the same time a cabinet member, as a compromise formula put forward the idea of both the commander of the Turkish Peace Forces and the commander of the Turkish Cypriot Security Forces come together at a tripartite meeting. The moment he put forward this idea, They run away. So the Greek Cypriots intention is not to reach an agreement but just to create an image. The image of "our proper respondent is the occupation forces" has been created. Of course no one will be taken in. If they harbour good intentions, then let them sit around the negotiation table with the commander of the TRNC Security Forces. In 1989 this was done. We could mediate and thus new agreements could be concluded, as in 1989. Of course, this diminishes the risk of confrontation. And later on the troops can withdraw. Demilitarization is another issue. This is for extending the distance between the two forces so as to avoid bloody events like the ones that happened recently. To diminish the risk of such incidents happening again. Question: The idea of a referendum regarding federation was put forward. How do you consider it? It has been claimed that you have been dispatched to Cyprus to stop this referendum idea. Is that true? Batu: When and under what conditions it will take place (referendum) we will sit down and evaluate it within the framework of views. You saw what were my contacts. Today I discussed with the leader and the deputy prime minister the economic problems. I discussed the timetable of the visits. I did not discuss referendum with them. It was a general assessment, and rather a discussion of the programme of the new government and how Turkey could render its support to this programme. Of course meetings with Denktash. (Tr. note: as written in the Turkish text) The Greek Cypriots do not want federation. They never accepted the idea that Turkish Cypriots as well should have political rights. In fact a consensus is already shaping in all countries. I claim that all the concepts that I am mentioning today have gained wide acceptance. At least they are gaining sympathy. If we sit around the negotiation table we have to discuss them. They will not discuss Enosis of course if they sit around the negotiation table. They are not siting around the negotiation table because they cannot put forward on the table a system that will put the Turkish Cypriots into a minority status, further back than the 1960 system. If they do so, they will lose the world's backing. For this reason the recent events escalated: `Look, there are occupation troops, look they are shedding blood!' When I arrived here I learned an interesting thing. There were two death cases that made us, as Turkey, feel sorry. As Turkey we felt very sorry. But I heard that the Greek Cypriots shouted cries of happiness. I wish this was made known to the whole world. I wish the world could hear the Greek Cypriot TV stations' cries of happiness. However, today it has lost its importance. It is not important to hear these cries, because the world's agenda is changing everyday. The events in Cyprus have been forgotten. Completely different events are taking place. Question: What is the source of the Greek Cypriot intransigence regarding the coming together of the two leaders? Is there any- thing that Turkey could do through Greece? Batu: Greece never wanted a settlement. Greece as well rejects the principles I have listed which will be put on the negotiation table. In addition to Greece's not wanting a settlement in Cyprus they have the following reasoning: They consider Cyprus a punch in Turkey's back. They see Cyprus as a problem that mortgages Turkey's foreign relations. Specially they consider that the Cyprus problem renders Turkey's relations with the EU difficult. There is no other problem than the settlement of the Cyprus problem that bothers Greece more. I insist on that. I am ready to argue this with everybody. Nobody could tell me that Greece wants a settlement in Cyprus. Unless he is an instrument to the Greek propaganda.

At this point Greece is at a great contradiction. On the one hand they will speak of the Turkish threat and on the other they will place every obstacle to stop Turkey's integration with the EU. There is a big contradiction here. If we enter the EU, will there be, as they put it, a Turkish threat? If they really believe in the Turkish threat then both of us should become EU members. But they do everything possible to preclude it. Question: Could you assess the USA's Cyprus policy? Do you expect any serious initiative from the USA prior to the presidential elections? Does the Turkish Foreign Ministry support the US initiative? Batu: No, such an initiative is not expected, because the USA considers the case with great realism. There is a strong Greek Lobby. Under these conditions it is difficult to be impartial and act in a balanced manner. I have been saying this for months now.

The two communities in Cyprus will solve the Cyprus problem. The negotiations held under the auspices of the UN will solve the Cyprus problem. What we expect from third parties is to help the UN and use their influence to make the Greek Cypriot side return to the negotiation table. This is our message. We are conveying this message to the Americans, the British and the Russians. We are consistent. I have said the same thing in Moscow. Question: Under what conditions TRNC's full integration with Turkey could be considered? Batu: If by saying integration it is meant for TRNC businessmen and traders to do business with Turkey without any difficulty, we are trying to safeguard this integration. As for political integration, it is TRNC's business. We were and are proud of the TRNC establishment. If the people of the TRNC will claim their state it is their choice." (MY)

Ef/SK