Erdogan offers a narrowed document to Annan for Cyprus

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, "during my meeting with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Davos city of Switzerland, I told Mr. Annan that it would be more appropriate to use a narrowed document in efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue."

Prime Minister Erdogan responded questions of journalists aboard the plane on his way to the United States.

When asked, "can the sides find a solution to the Cyprus issue till May 1, 2004?" Prime Minister Erdogan said, "I believe that it would be more appropriate to use a narrowed document in efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue. I told it to Mr. Annan. Now, he will assess it. Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will fulfill their responsibilities. During our meetings, President Rauf Denktas of TRNC, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said that they were ready to act under the statement of Friday’s meeting of the National Security Council (NSC)."

"We will display our good intentions and sincerity. The Greek Cypriot side does not have any worries about the date of May 1. The European Union (EU) and the world have been observing all steps of the TRNC. Also, we, as one of guarantor states, should put forward our sensitivity. We explained all these to European Commission President Romano Prodi during his visit to Turkey. He told us that he was ready to do his utmost," he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters that the issues of Cyprus, Iraq, the terrorist organization PKK and investments of private sector would top agenda of his meetings in the United States.

Responding another question, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "Mr. Annan has welcomed our proposal. He told us that if the Greek Cypriot side displays a similar approach, the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue will become easier. Now, he will assess our proposal and hold talks with Greek side. I believe that resumption of negotiation process will be beneficial. In fact, Mr. Annan is mediator. However, he cannot fulfill this mission due to his intense program. I proposed appointment of a mediator having experience in politics. I also stressed that the mediator should not be chosen from parties of the Cyprus issue."

Upon another question, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the Cyprus issue and his visit to the United States topped agenda of his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.