President Denktas, who went to Istanbul on 5 April for contacts with Turkish officials on the Cyprus issue, yesterday (6 April) went to Ankara, where he had separate meetings with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In an statement issued by the Turkish Presidency’s Press Office after President Denktas’ meeting with President Sezer it was stated that during this sensitive stage, in order to conclude efforts aimed at achieving the best possible settlement of the Cyprus issue, close contact and consultations between the two countries would continue.

The statement said during the meeting the two Presidents exchanged ideas in detail on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

Regarding President Denktas’ meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan it was stated that detailed evaluations regarding the contents of the final version and the calendar of the Annan Plan were discussed.

Prime Minister Talat yesterday (6 April) received members of the Turkish Immigrants Cooperation and Solidarity Association and briefed them on the final version of the Annan Plan.

Prime Minister Talat said in the event of the Annan Plan being implemented, TRNC citizens from mainland Turkey would not have any problems regarding their stay in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state.

Pointing out that the list was being prepared regarding the names of the 45,000 citizens, who came to the island from Turkey after 1974, Prime Minister Talat said this list included almost all citizens of Turkish, Bulgarian and Turkmen origin living in the North. He said he wouldn’t accept any of these people being sent back.

Referring to the issue of derogations, the Prime Minister said this issue had also been settled. He said derogations would be adapted by the European Council and after the founding agreement had been implemented the necessary legal procedure would be immediately started to turn it into primary law. He said the Greek Foreign Minister Moliviyatis had also promised to pass this issue through the Greek Parliament.

Prime Minister Talat said: "If we love this country and Turkey we have to settle this issue. Even if we know that we will be individually affected we must settle this issue".