TRNC President Rauf Denktaþ and the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration Glafcos Clerides are meeting today at 17:30hrs within the framework of the face-to-face negotiations which started on 16^th of January.

The meeting will take place at the Lefkoþa Cultural Centre in the UN controlled buffer zone at the presence of the UN secretary General’s Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto who has been joining the direct talks as an observer.

PRESIDENT DENKTAÞ RECEIVED HANNAY AND HAIN

TRNC President Rauf Denktaþ yesterday received the Undersecretary of the British Ministry of State Responsible for Cyprus and European Union Enlargement, Peter Hain and Britain’s Special Cyprus Representative, Lord David Hannay.

During the meeting which took place at the TRNC Presidency at 11:00hrs, the latest developments on the Cyprus issue were taken up.

Earlier, the two British officials met with the Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides.

President Denktaþ, indicated, in a brief statement he issued afterwards, that the meeting had been very useful and that he intends to continue with the direct negotiations process till the end.

Responding to the questions shortly before the meeting began, as to whether or not the month of June will mark the end of the negotiations process, President Denktaþ said: “You’ll see when it happens”.

The President, speaking at the end of the approximately hour-long meeting, thanked Peter Hain for his efforts to help the two sides in Cyprus reach a settlement.

President Denktaþ said he hoped that Hain has got the information he sough to, from the Turkish Cypriot side.

For his part, Peter Hain said his meeting with President Denktaþ had been a very fruitful one. Peter Hain expressed his belief that the courage shown by the two leaders during the talks, will lead them to a successful completion of the talks.

Hain said he believes the two leaders’ courage will help them solve the Cyprus problem, bring peace and security to the island, and eventually, take the island into the European Union.

Giving a speech on April 10, titled ‘Our Future in Europe’ at Ledra Palace in Lefkoþa , Hain explained his government’s policies on Cyprus, and the issue’s links to the European Union.

In his speech Hain said Britain like other EU countries and the union itself wants a re-united Cyprus to join the European Union.

Hain said that for the direct negotiations in Cyprus to succeed, there must be a ‘give and take’ process. He said the British Government supports the two leaders in their efforts to achieve a settlement in Cyprus and stressed that for any negotiations to succeed, there must be a ‘give and take’ process and added that ‘Neither side is going to get all it wants. But both sides will gain: a win-win-solution’.

The undersecretary of British Ministry of State stressed his country’s commitment to the Helsinki Summit resolutions on Cyprus which state that a settlement is not a precondition for accession; but that it would facilitate accession enormously and that a decision will have to take account of all relevant factors.

Stressing that the European Union is determined to do all it can to help achieve a settlement in Cyprus, Hain said the British Government welcomed the European Commission’s undertaking that the EU will accommodate an agreement between the two sides in Cyprus.

Stressing that EU membership of a re-united Cyprus after a political settlement on the island, will also give a massive boost to the reconciliation of Greece and Turkey, Hain said this opportunity should not be missed.

Hain also stressed that Cyprus’ membership to the union will also bring economic benefits to the two peoples of the island and will create more choices for Cypriot businesses, investment and unemployment opportunities; and also bring common standards, and added that his country wants Cyprus to be an equal partner in re-designing the future political architecture of Europe.

Following the completion of their contacts on the island, the two British officials departed from the island yesterday.

PRESIDENT DENKTAÞ TO GO TO STRASBOURG

TRNC President Rauf Denktaþ is to go to Strasbourg on April 21, with a delegation of four people including the Deputy Speaker of the TRNC Assembly, Ünal Üstel.

During his stay in Strasbourg, President Denktaþ will give a conference on April 23, under the title of “Legal Status of the Cyprus Issue".

It was reported that President Denktaþ is expected to meet with the political group leaders at the European Council Parliamentarians Assembly.

5^TH EUROSIA ISLAMIC BOARD ORGANIZATION MEETING TO START ON MONDAY

5^th Eurasia Islamic Board Organisation Meeting organised by Turkish Direction of Religious Affairs, will take place in the TRNC this year for the first time between April 15-19, at Magosa Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel.

The meeting will be attended by more than 100 religious leaders from Balkan states and Turkish republics.

BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS UNION PUBLISHED "NORTH CYPRUS" ADDITION

A North Cyprus addition was published in the April 2002, issue of the British Travel Agents Union’ periodical titled "ABTA Magazine".

The North Cyprus addition included information about the TRNC tourism and TRNC’s touristic and historical places.

EOKA MEDAL WAS PRESENTED TO CLERIDES

The leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, Glafcos Clerides, was presented "EOKA medal" together with other lawyers who defended EOKA members at the courts.