[01] Denktash criticizes Britain, US.

[02] Batu: "Turkey and the TRNC have unity of views".

[03] Talat expresses opposition to referendum.

[04] Denktash meets UN envoy Feissel.

[05] Akarkan: Recent events make historic decisions inevitable.

[06] Increase in "TRNC" crime.

No.157/96 31/8/1-2.9.96

[01] Denktash criticizes Britain, US

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 30.8.96) Rauf Denktash has alleged that Britain, the United States, and the former Soviet Union are acting in line with their interests by recognizing the Cyprus Government as the legal government of Cyprus and added: "They are doing their best so that the Cyprus issue is not resolved." In his address at the meeting with Turk-Is (Turkish Confederation of Labour) Chairmanship Council, Denktash summarized the Cyprus issue.

Explaining that it was decided in 1974 that the two sides would sign a bizonal agreement, Denktash claimed that since then the Turkish Cypriot side made "great sacrifices so as to secure such an agreement". He added claiming: "Britain, which sought to protect its bases from Greek Cypriot terror: the United States, which sought to appease the Greek lobby; and the former Soviet Union, which has sought not to have the Cyprus issue resolved between the two NATO countries, have committed the mistake of supporting Makarios, who triggered this tragedy, disrupted the peace, defied the international agreements, and violated human rights. They recognized the Greek Cypriot Administration as the legal governor of Cyprus for their own interests and undertook whatever was necessary not to have the Cyprus issue resolved up to now."

[02] Batu: "Turkey and the TRNC have unity of views"

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 30.8.96) Ambassador Inal Batu, deputy under secretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, has concluded his contacts and left the occupied area last Friday.

In a pre-departure statement to illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency) at occupied Tymbou airport, Batu said that he held extremely favourable meetings and added: "As always, Turkey and the TRNC have unity of views regarding the Cyprus issue."

[03] Talat expresses opposition to referendum

According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 29.8.96) Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), has said that Denktash, the so-called government, and the "Assembly" must determine the policies under which talks with the Greek Cypriot side will start as soon as possible, and the conditions will be created for a federal solution.

In a statement he issued, Talat said that the Cyprus problem is at a difficult crossroads and that therefore it is necessary to refrain from creating more difficulties. He said that in the wake of the negative and tense situation created by the recent incidents the Turkish Cypriot side raised the referendum issue. He stressed that this approach will not contribute to the solution of the problem. "Furthermore", he said, "it will make it easier for the Greek Cypriots to work for a one-sided membership in the EU."

The RTP leader stressed that referendums must be held on issues that are known, understood, and totally clear. It is worthless to hold a referendum on an issue that is unclear, he said, adding that his party believes that the need at this stage of the Cyprus problem is not a referendum that will make people choose between a federation or an integration with Turkey.

[04] Denktash meets UN envoy Feissel

According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 30.8.96) Rauf Denktash had a 90-minute meeting with Gustave Feissel, the deputy special envoy of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus. He said that Feissel was holding an exchange of ideas on how the intercommunal talks can resume. Denktash added that it is a part of Feissel's duty to go on holding this exchange of ideas.

Denktash was reminded of the Greek Cypriot press reports that say that President Clerides asked Feissel to tell Denktash that until the tension subsides, the Turkish Cypriots should refrain from going to the free areas. Denktash replied that such an issue was not raised.

Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriots are "investigating" to see what is necessary to make President Clerides come to the negotiating table.

He added that President Clerides said that there is no common ground for negotiations. "The parameters which the UN Security Council finds appropriate are on the table. We are telling him to come so that we can start to negotiate on these parameters", Denktash said.

Referring to the recent incidents Denktash claimed that these incidents create a situation that makes it more difficult for the two sides to come together. He said that "friendship and understanding should not be expected from Turkish Cypriots who live under threat."

Denktash said that great responsibilities fall on both sides and on the leadership of both sides. If they are aware of these responsibilities, he alleged, the Greek Cypriots will come to the negotiating table.

[05] Acarkan: Recent events make historic decisions inevitable

According to illegal Bayrak radio (500 hours, 31.8.96) Ayhan Halit Acarkan, "speaker" of the so-called Assembly, has said that recent developments make historic decisions inevitable.

In a speech at the 30 August Victory Day celebrations held in occupied Morphou Acarkan said that regardless of the political solution that is reached, the Turkish Cypriots' "independence and sovereignty will remain untouched."

[06] Increase in "TRNC" crime

According to turkish cypriot Cyprus Today (31.8.96), an unsavoury increase in "TRNC" crime over seven years is reflected in figures released by concerned "police" chiefs to the "government's State Planning Office".

The bulk of statistics are for the period between 1988 and 1995.

While in 1993 only one murder was committed in the occupied area this figure increased to 18 between 1994 and 1995.

According to the records a total of 46,125 crimes have been reported by the "police".

Uncontrolled entries into the occupied area are blamed for this increase, the paper says.

EF/SK