TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides met again yesterday for face to face talks on the Cyprus issue.

The two leaders met at 17:00 at the UN conference centre in the buffer zone near Lefkosa Airport.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for yesterday’s meeting,  President Denktas said that the aim is to achieve a permanent and viable agreement that will continuously provide security to our people and not temporary betterments.

President Denktas said that "it is our main objective to prevent the repetition of the events of 1963, the displacement of our people, and the total destroy of the economy"  and added that all these efforts are being designed and put into force jointly by Turkey.

President Denktas said the Greek Cypriot side should stop presenting itself as the government of Cyprus and, try to understand and appreciate the goodwill of the Turkish Cypriot side without trying indirectly to impose their own will on Turkish Cypriots. President Denktas also said reconciliation could only be achieved if both sides want it and work for it.

At yesterday’s meeting of President Denktas and Glafcos Clerides, the Turkish Cypriot side’s point of view and the amendment proposals concerning Annan’s plan, were taken up.

Speaking at Gecitkale Airport before his departure, Yakis has reiterated Turkey’s continuing support to the ongoing negotiations and the Turkish Cypriot people as the Cyprus Cause is going through a critical period.

During his stay in the TRNC, the Turkish Foreign Minister, held talks with the political leaders, and gave a clear message that the decisions on the Cyprus Cause are being taken jointly by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey and that this would continue to be so, in the future.

During his stay, Yakis was received by President Rauf Denktas, the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Vehbi Zeki Serter, and the Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu. The Turkish foreign minister also paid a visit to the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Hayati Guven.

The Commander of the Turkish Land Forces General, Aytac Yalman, arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus yesterday for inspection of military units, and contacts with the TRNC government officials.

Speaking at Gecitkale Airport, General Yalman said the ongoing negotiations which started a year ago with the initiative of President Denktas were aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that would guarantee the sovereignty, security and equality of the Turkish Cypriot people as well as safeguarding Turkey’s strategic interests and the Turkish-Greek balance over the island.

General Yalman expressed that it was impossible to accept a solution which could result in a return to the days of 1963 and the end of the atmosphere of security on the island and the whole Eastern Mediterranean.

General Yalman was firstly received by President Rauf Denktas.

Speaking during the meeting, General Yalman, pointed to the Greek Cypriot side’s continued policies aimed at presenting the Turkish Cypriot side as a minority and said the Greek Cypriots by feeling the backing of the European Union and other powers are refusing to work for a permanent settlement to the Cyprus issue.

The Commander expressed the hope that the parties concerned would take into consideration the realities of the island, take note of the President’s proposals for changes in the Annan Plan, and grasp the opportunity that exists for a permanent settlement.

Warning that "unless this is done, it will be inevitable that the whole Eastern Mediterranean will plunge in a new cycle of continuous crisis" General Yalman said that no settlement will be accepted which will not be based on the equal sovereignty right of the Turkish Cypriot people.

TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday received the British Special Representative to Cyprus Lord David Hannay who arrived in the island for having contacts on the latest developments on the ongoing negotiations between the two sides.