Turkish side presents a three-stage proposal
The Greek Cypriot side is expected to announce on Thursday whether or not it will accept the proposal.
Following the second-days Cyprus talks in New York, the United States, TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said, "we have presented a proposal in order to find a sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue. It is a proposal of overcoming the current deadlock. United Nations Secretary General Annan is positive about the proposal. The Greek Cypriot side will give a response to the proposal on Thursday. If the Greek Cypriot side responds our proposal in the affirmative, negotiations will start on February 16, 2004."
The sides are scheduled to come together for the third time at 22.00 Turkish local time today.
Following the meeting, the sides will leave New York for Cyprus at about 23.00 Turkish local time.
Foreign Minister Denktas refrained from giving detailed information about the proposal due to media blackout.
However, sources said that the proposal was composed of three stages.
Under the proposal, if the Greek Cypriot side accepts the proposal, the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot sides will carry out the negotiation process and try to reach a compromise in the first stage between February 15 and 20.
United Nations Secretary General Annan’s Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will be in attendance at the negotiations.
If the sides fail to reach a compromise in the first stage, the second stage will start.
Ankara and Athens are envisaged to take action by putting pressure on the sides to remove disagreements.
If the sides cannot reach a compromise in the second stage, United Nations Secretary General Annan will fill the blanks in co-operation with Turkey and Greece.
The TRNC announced that it would accept Annan’s filling the blanks in the third stage.
In that case, Annan will act together with Turkey and Greece, and prepare the plan till March 31.
A referendum is envisaged to be held on both sides in Cyprus on April 21 on the final agreement.
