TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday received the US State Department’s Special Coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Weston.

Speaking briefly to reporters after his meeting with Weston, the President said if the amendments that the two sides required were considered, it would be impossible to bring the Annan plan to life.

Stressing that it was not taken up whether the Cyprus talks could resume in September or not, President Denktas said: "There is a long path until September…We will see."

Upon being asked whether the Annan plan had died, President Denktas pointed out that the Annan plan was not on the table and added that the approval of both sides was required for a plan to be on the table.

Explaining that "where are we now and where can we go", was taken up during the meeting, President Denktas said the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus could become a member of the European Union only after Turkey’s membership.

Upon being reminded that the Greek Cypriots wanted the US President to become directly involved in the Cyprus issue, President Denktas expressed his hope that the US President really knew full details of the Cyprus issue.

President Denktas continued by saying: "I am not convinced that such a busy leader would be in a position to know everything on this issue. He acts on the basis of reports submitted to him by the people who occasionally hold contacts in Cyprus, and whose sensitivity is questionable."

Within the framework of his contacts in the island yesterday, the US envoy also had meetings with Turkish Cypriot political parties.

The Chairman of the Human Rights Association, Hasan Yilmaz Isik, in a letter sent to the US State Department’s Special Coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Weston, pointed out that the Annan plan was a long way off from satisfying the basic requirements and concerns of the Turkish Cypriots. Isik stressed that the plan did not take into consideration the equality and sovereignty of the two states which would form a new partnership on the island.

Pointing out that the proposed framework would lead to the return to the conditions experienced prior to 1974, Isik said: "We are definitely against a plan which forces people to leave their homes and properties."

Stressing that the term "component state" was unacceptable and meaningless, Isik underlined that a viable and meaningful agreement required a real partnership between the two constituent states.

Isik also stressed that: "The two communities on the island are passing through a very important period which will shape their future. Therefore, pressure imposed on one of the negotiating parties, will negatively effect the efforts for reaching a comprehensive settlement."

Mir Zaferullah Han Cemali, the Pakistani Prime Minister, pointed out that permanent peace should be achieved in Cyprus.

Referring to the Cyprus issue in a dinner given in his honour by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cemali said: "There should be a permanent peace in Cyprus. A federate structure on the basis of two communities should be formed. We support Turkey on the Cyprus issue."