Cyprus talks to continue on Monday

LEFKOSA (AA) – The negotiation process, which started on February 19, 2004 with the aim to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan until May 1, 2004 will continue on Monday.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot delegations headed by President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos will meet for the 15th time.

The give-and-take process should have started this week in line with the negotiation schedule. However, the process could not start because the discord between the two sides could not be removed and preparatory works could not be completed.

During the 14th session held on Friday, the sides did not present their draft constitutions to the United Nations.

The negotiation process will enter the most critical week as of Monday.

It will be the last week of negotiations between the two sides.

The give-and-take process is expected to start next week.

If the sides fail to reach a compromise until March 22, a four-party conference will be held with the participation of Turkey and Greece.

If an agreement is not reached also at this conference, United Nations Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks. And the document will be put to vote in simultaneous referenda in the both sides on April 20.

Upon request of United Nations Secretary General Annan’s Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, the sides will present the changes they want in Annan’s plan to the United Nations on Monday at the latest.

De Soto will try to start the give-and-take process by holding separate talks with the sides. The process is not expected to start on Monday.

Following Monday’s meeting, de Soto will start holding separate talks with leaders of the two sides.