30^th August Victory Day which marks the 82th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal’s victory against Greek, English, French, Italian and latter German forces’ occupation of Anatolia had been celebrated both in Turkey and in various parts of the TRNC. Ceremonies were held in Nicosia and other cities marking 30^th August which is also the day of Turkish Armed Forces.

Following the Commander of the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Lieutenant-General Hasan Memişoğlu’s acceptance of well wishes from the public, ceremonies were held at the Ataturk Monument and at the Dr. Fazıl Kucuk Boulevard. President Rauf R. Denktas also attended the ceremony at the Dr. Fazıl Kucuk Boulevard.

President Denktas speaking to Anatolian News Agency (A.A), explained his views on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s EU membership.

President Denktas pointed out that many promises had been given to Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat before the 24 April referendum but the ones who gave promises were now trying not to upset the Greek Cypriot Administration.

Pointing out to the threat that Hrisi Avgi organization at the Greek Cypriot side which is centered in Greece could be a new EOKA President Denkas said:

"This organization can speedily become a new EOKA. It should be followed very closely".

President Denktas stated that two separate referendums had shown that the the right to determine Cyprus’ destiny did not belong to one community and that the Greek Cypriots could not be the government of the Turkish Cypriots. Therefore, after the referendum the Turkish Cypriot people should have insisted on sovereignty and recognition.

Responding to a question whether there would be any new initiatives or pressures for a settlement, President Denktas said the international community would waste the TRNC’s time until December, the real pressures will start just before December on the eve of Turkey’s accession date discussions.

Prime Minister Talat speaking to Anatolian News Agency, explained his views on how the Greek Cypriots see him.

Regarding the issue of Free Trade Regulation and finacial regulation which will be taken up by the EU in September, Prime Minister said the financial regulation would probably be passed but he was not sure about the Free Trade Regulation.

Reminding that the Greek Cypriots were extremely against the Free Trade Regulation, Prime Minister said, in contrast to the Greek Cypriots the Turkish Cypriots were extremely in favour of the Free Trade Regulation because it was very important for them.

Stating that the Green Line Regulation could not be as same as the Free Trade Regulation, Prime Minister said the Greek Cypriots did not have the right to force the Turkish Cypriots to export their goods from Limassol or Larnaca ports.

Autonomous Missing Persons Committee met yesterday (31 August) after four years break. During the meeting, which started at 11:00am at UN-controlled Ledra Palace Hotel, the proposals made by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the both sides had been taken up.

In a statement issued by the UN Peace Forces, it was stated that the committee members had exchanged views on the issues of opening of the graveyards and the investigations to be carried out.

Turkish Cypriot representative of the Committee, Rustem Tatar, speaking to the Turkish News Agency (TAK), stated that the international medical experts who would carry out the excavations on the two sides of the island, would be jointly selected from the list of International Red Cross Organisation. He added that a letter related to this issue has been sent to the International Red Cross Organisation in Geneva.

Rustem Tatar stated that the issue of the place of DNA tests would be discussed at the political level.

Both Rustem Tatar and the Greek Cypriot representative of the Committee Ilias Georgiades, speaking about the meeting stressed that their main goal was to settle this humanitarian issue of missing persons to satisfy the families of the missing on the two sides.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Talat sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and stated that the Turkish Cypriots would actively involve in scientific and medical activities of Cyrpus Neuralogy and Genetic Institute and that the Institute should be restructured to become a bi-communal institute as decided at the beginning.

In his letter, Prime Minister Talat pointed out that only a real bi-communal institute could provide the data, which is acceptable to both people, trustworthy and concrete.

Yagmuralan (Vroısa) village located on the skirts of Trodos which like many other Turkish Cypriot villages was isloted in 1963 has come to the agenda after 40 years. The old inhabitants of the Yagmuralan village whom their houses were destroyed, vineyards were turned into forest area and their village was deleted from the map, was organised and started to seek for their rights.

Yagmuralan inhabitants, yesterday (31 August) visited Prime Minister Talat and gave information about their initiatives until today and demanded support. Yagmuralan villagers with their written documents, the photos of their village being in ruins and their professional brochures about the village’s history called upon all democratic forces to support them.

The President of the Yagmuralan Association Esat Mustafa said after organising themselves in this association they sent a 10-page letter to the Greek Cypriot Interior Ministry through London Embassy and demanded that the village would be transferred to its legal owners and that the villagers be compensated. In response, the Greek Cypriot Interior Ministry stated that because the Cyprus issue has not yet been settled the property owners could not use their rights over their properties.