Talat: The target is certainly solution of Cyprus problem

Opposition leaders told Papandreou that they favoured a solution on the basis of Annan plan.

Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat; Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa Akinci and other party officials Huseyin Angolemli, Izzet Izcan, Mehmet Suleymanoglu; Solution and European Union Party (CABP) leader Ali Erel and another party official Mustafa Damdelen; and Patriotic Unity Movement’s (YBH) Foreign Relations Secretary Alpay Durduran attended the meeting.

Upon questions of journalists, Papandreou said that he had a useful meeting with TRNC party leaders.

CTP leader Talat told reporters that they explained their views to Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou and listened to his views.

Talat said "the target is certainly solution of Cyprus problem and joining of Cyprus to EU as a whole. We also reached a consensus to hold similar meetings and contacts… We explained the conditions in TRNC and our views. It was a good meeting."

BDH leader Akinci said that they particularly underlined two issues during the meeting. "One of them is to have clearer and more stable messages from the Greek Cypriot side confirming their support to Annan plan. Our second important message was that if Turkey knew that it would get a negotiation date from EU in December 2004, it would have clearer contribution to the solution of Cyprus problem," he said.

While CABP leader Ali Erel said that they had a good meeting, YBH Foreign Affairs Secretary Alpay Durduran said in his part that they took guarantee from Papandreou that Greece would do its best to find a solution within the scope of Annan plan before May, 1, 2004.