[01] Demirel, Erbakan discuss Iraq, Cyprus, economy.

[02] Several ambassadorial appointments announced.

[03] Denktash on President Clerides' letter exhibits his dubious stance.

[04] Reaction to handing over the Israeli fugitives.

No.166/96 13.9.96

[01] Demirel, Erbakan discuss Iraq, Cyprus, economy

According to Ankara radio (12.9.96), Turkish President Suleyman Demirel received Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan at the Cankaya Mansion today. It was a routine weekly meeting.

In a statement after the two-hour meeting, Erbakan said that they reviewed the work of the government and the problems in the country. He pointed out that the latest foreign policy developments are in the forefront among the numerous important issues facing Turkey. Erbakan said: "With the honourable President, we discussed in detail the developments in Iraq, the point we are now, and what we want to do. We reviewed the Cyprus developments. We had the opportunity to discuss the situation there. In addition to these important foreign policy issues, the economic issues are very important in Turkey today. I had the opportunity to brief him on the steps we are taking in this field and on the work being done to resolve the basic problems."

[02] Several ambassadorial appointments announced

According to TRT TV (12.9.96), the Council of Ministers' decision regarding the transfer of duties of 17 ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry has been published in the Official Gazette.

According to the decision, Ambassador Yalcin Tuk has been appointed to Thailand, Osman Taney Koruturk to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Gunduz Suphaytan to Japan, Nazif Murat Ersavci to Ireland, Taner Bayturk to Switzerland, Ismet Birsel to Hungary, Dogan Alpan to Brazil, Solmaz Unaydin to Poland, Oktay Aksoy to Sweden, Ertugrul Apakan to the occupied area and Riza Turmen to the position of Permanent Representative at the Council of Europe.

According to the decision, six ambassadors were called back to assume duties at headquarters.

[03] Denktash on President Clerides' letter exhibits his dubious stance

According to KIBRIS (13.9.96), Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, asked by the turkish journalists about President Clerides' letter, said: "It is not the letter I was expecting. It is rather complaints regarding the events. He is telling me `if we will meet let us discuss the demilitarization and attaches to his letter, copy of the letter he has sent to the UN Secretary General regarding demilitarization. When I was informed that I will receive a letter from Clerides I was a little bit hopeful. However, when I saw the content of the letter, I realized that it has other intentions. It is opt to propaganda, anyhow I will reply to him".

Pointing out that demilitarization in Cyprus is included as an objective in the UN Secretary-General's Set of Ideas, and there was a timeschedule for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus, Denktash said: "These have been envisaged as part of the agreement. Prior to concluding an agreement, coming and saying `let's discuss demilitarization' would be tantamount to the Greek Cypriots saying that they are the only legitimate Government (a title which they have usurped)." Stating that they are ready to put into practice the programme envisaged by the UN Secretary General, Denktash said for this reason the problem should be speedily taken up, discussed and an agreement should be concluded.

He said: "At the end of the agreement such a situation should be created so that they would be ready to share the partnership post that they have occupied by force of arms trampling upon the constitution and considering null and void the international treaties. Without creating this, coming and saying: `Let us disarm' is an approach tantamount to fooling the world. It lacks goodwill. Specially at a time when he is proposing this to us, and in the meantime he is heralding to his people that 150 tanks will be arriving from Russia. This is food for thought. We are not conducting propaganda. The Cyprus problem should be settled radically so that people on both sides will be in comfort and at ease. Otherwise an approach which will disturb our tranquillity that we have acquired by the arrival of the Turkish troops, and which will render them as the legitimate government of Cyprus, cannot be considered as a goodwill approach." Stating that he is ready to discuss how the demilitarization will be put into practice, within the framework of the agreement envisaged by the UN Secretary General as well as abiding by the Guarantee Treaties, Denktash said: "Whatever the content of the demilitarization is, they have to know that nothing will affect the 1960 guarantee system. We will not consider a good will approach anything that is aimed at watering down or changing or affecting the guarantee system. Otherwise, trying to do away with a system which has saved the Turkish Cypriots from absolute annihilation could be considered another plot by those who under the code name of Hyperides sworn in to continue to the struggle until Hellenism becomes victorious in Cyprus". (MY)

[04] Reaction to handing over the Israeli fugitives

According to HALKIN SESI (13.9.96), there is a strong reaction against the decision to hand over the four Israeli fugitives to the Cyprus authorities by the occupation regime. Denktash's court, prior to handing over the fugitives, had issued three days of remand order for the Israelis.

HALKIN SESI, asked: "Is Gustave Feissel conducting our foreign policy?" It strongly criticizes the action, and says: "What's the difference between violating the TRNC borders and violating the court's decision?"

Alleging that there is not a criminal exchange agreement between the "TRNC" and the Republic of Cyprus, HALKIN SESI says that handing over the Israeli fugitives to the Cyprus authorities cast a shadow on the credibility of the occupied area.

In a joint statement the fascist and terrorist Idealist Hearths organization, the National Thought Association and Turk-Bir, in an attempt to protect the criminals, opposed the handing over of the Israeli fugitives to the Cyprus authorities. (MY)