Annan’s New York invitation is being evaluated in Ankara

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey continues to assess the invitation of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan who called the sides to resume Cyprus talks in New York on February 10.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met with Foreign Ministry’s Cyprus department bureaucrats and Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin on Saturday and took up the issue.

The invitation letter of Annan was taken up in details in the meeting. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal who will return to Turkey from London in the afternoon is also expected to attend the meeting.

Although not officially announced, Ziyal is expected to represent Turkey in New York on February 10. It is not certain yet if Ziyal is going to the U.S. alone or with Cyprus team of the ministry. Ankara is expected to clarify the issue of who will represent Turkey in the negotiations until Sunday.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Gul who conveyed the uneasiness of Turkey about Annan’s invitation letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, can have another telephone talk with Powell in the evening.