Within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations, TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, got together for the 15^th time today (March 15).

Pointing out that there was a big gap between the two sides basic requirements, Alvaro de Soto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Cyprus, speaking after last Friday’s (March 12) meeting, said to determine whether or not it would be possible to move on to the give and take process he had requested both sides to submit a list of their requested changes to the Annan Plan.

Speaking after last Friday’s (March 12) meeting, President Denktas said the Greek Cypriot side claimed that following the opening of the borders and crossings between the two sides it was observed that there were no obstacles for the Greek and Turkish Cypriots to live together and again reiterated their request for the right of Greek Cypriots to return and settle in their former properties in the North to be recognized. Pointing out that if there were no incidents up until today in the crossings this was because of the existence of the (TRNC) state, the preservation of public order, Greek Cypriot awareness that they were crossing into another administration and the fact that the borders were under control, the President said during the meeting they explained that if these were lifted and Greek Cypriots were granted the right to return and settle in their former homes they should know under what conditions they would return to the North and no one could take responsibility for this.

Explaining that the section in the plan which states that people aged 65 years and over had an unlimited right to return to four villages in Karpaz was being accepted by the Greek Cypriots as being "an unlimited right to return", President Denktas said upon this request, UN experts tried to explain to the Greek Cypriot side that this wasn’t the case and that the number of Greek Cypriots returning to Karpaz would be included in the envisaged total percentage, said there was a difference of opinion between the UN experts and the Greek Cypriot side on this issue.

Pointing out that on the issue of the economy the Turkish Cypriot side insisted on the necessity of a long-term transition period and rejected the approach to introduce the Cyprus Pound in the north at a certain date, President Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot side explained that it wanted the Turkish Lira to be accepted as being the official currency during this transition period.