The Cyprus negotiations process, aimed at finding a solution on the basis of Annan plan, have been delayed due to the Presidential elections in South Cyprus and the replacement of Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides.

Following the cancellation of Monday’s (February 17) meeting, upon the request of Glafcos Clerides who was defeated in Sunday’s (February 16) elections, it was reported that meetings scheduled for today and Friday were also cancelled.

It is still unclear whether the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders will come together on Monday, who meet for three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

Responding to reporters’ questions yesterday, TRNC President Rauf Denktas said that after his meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who has returned from Ankara, it will be determined whether the negotiations will resume on Monday (February 24) or not.

Meanwhile, President Denktas met with the UN envoy yesterday at 18:10.

President Denktas said the purpose of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto’s, recent visit to Ankara was to brief Turkish officials on the new version of the Secretary General’s plan.

Upon being reminded that de Soto had a six-hour long meeting with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials President Denktas said: "He was going to explain the new plan. We will receive information on this either today or tomorrow".

On being reminded of the remark made by Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that "a settlement was possible by February 28", President Denktas said: "De Soto probably said that it was possible because he is constantly giving messages that the two leaders are close to reaching a settlement. He has made the Cyprus issue a personal issue and a matter of prestige. A settlement cannot be forcefully imposed".

Stressing the importance of the compensation issue, the President stated: "We want reconciliation and reconciliation is possible. A new partnership can be established between two sovereign, equal people. But our territory will be our territory and property will be settled through exchange and compensation. By saying ‘this is my home’ no one has the right to put on the streets those people who cannot return to their former homes. This is also contrary to human rights"

President Denktas also explained that remarks made in the past by the newly elected Greek Cypriot leader, Tasos Papadopulos, that "although the Cyprus Republic has been established our struggle is not yet over. We have to fight with either the communists or the Turks. If we fight with the communists, the Greek Cypriot community will be split into two, therefore, we will fight with the Turks", had been realized, and that the Greek Cypriots had attacked the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that following the attacks, peace has prevailed on the island since 1974, the population exchange agreement was made, certain agreements had been reached with various Greek Cypriot leaders, and these were all gathered in the Ghali Set of Ideas which was supported by the UN Security Council, the President added that now some people are acting as if all these events did not happen in the past.

Meanwhile, speaking on the BRT’s ‘Akis’ programme last night regarding the signing of the Annan plan, President Denktas said pressure had not been exerted on him by Ankara to sign the UN document, and added that if Annan exerts pressure on the two sides during his visit to the island this would put an end to his good offices mission. He added: "He can’t do this. No one can force me to sign anything".

The Greek Cypriot leader’s Chief Adviser, Lissarides, and the second biggest party in the Greek Cypriot Assembly, DISI, which has 19 seats in the Assembly expressed their support for Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization.

With the aim of giving their support to Ocalan, a delegation consisting of four representatives from the PKK’s subsidiary, the Democratic People’s Unions (YDK), met Lissarides and the Chairman of DISI’s Foreign Commission, Maros Magrodabi. During the meetings Greek Cypriot officials were called upon to bring the Kurdish problem on to the agenda whenever the Cyprus issue was discussed and to participate in the march organized under the banner "Freedom for Ocalan, Peace to Kurdistan".

The YDK delegation which visited Magrodabi at his party headquarters gave information on a settlement proposal prepared for settling the Kurdish problem and requested support for their campaign for "Protecting and Defending Leader Apo", which was started on December 10.