In a statement issued yesterday (March 16) by the UNFICYP Press Office it was announced that before the critical give and take process, there would be a one day break in the proximity talks, which started on March 15 and form the new phase of the Cyprus negotiation process.

Meanwhile, the UN Undersecretary-general for Political Affairs, Sir Kieran Prendergast, arrived on the island yesterday afternoon for meetings with the two sides and to evaluate the latest point reached in the Cyprus negotiation process with UN Special Representative Alvaro De Soto.

This is Prendergast’s second visit to the island in two weeks and today (March 17) he is expected to have separate meetings with President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos.

President Denktas pointing out that the path leading to a referendum was open, said he had made his decision about whether or not he would attend next week’s quadripartite talks and that when the time was right he would announce his decision.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot people had sacrificed their lives for the Cyprus cause and the government was carrying out its duties on this cause according to the authority given to them by the people, President Denktas said this authority was to achieve reconciliation but, it didn’t mean achieving reconciliation at any cost. Explaining that this reconciliation could only be achieved if efforts were not made to eliminate what had been gained, the President said these gains were equal sovereignty, bizonality, ensuring that bizonality was not diluted and the continuation of Turkey’s guarantorship.

Explaining that while the two sides still mistrust each other, this mistrust was being further strengthened by property issue disputes and by outside parties, together with the Greek Cypriot side, creating the impression and fear that there might be clashes after an agreement so they could station between 6-7,000 UN soldiers on the island, President Denktas said the real aim behind this was to remove the Turkish military presence from the island. He added that nearly all the proposals made by the Turkish Cypriot side up until today had been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side.

Pointing out that the technical committees were continuing with their studies and issues not agreed upon would be passed over for discussions on a political level, President Denktas said so far nothing had been passed over to be discussed at a political level and they expected that Annan would act as an arbitrator on these issues.

Stating that through EU membership the Greek Cypriot desire to take over the whole of Cyprus was still continuing, President Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot side’s desire was to prevent this from happening by forming a strong, new and lasting partnership.

Referring to the referendum and pointing out that it would be the people who would decide and that he trusted his people, President Denktas said:

"The path leading to a referendum is open. We will have a referendum. The people will make their decision consciously. By considering their close interests, the Turkish Cypriot people will not probably sacrifice the benefits of their future existence. We must be very careful".

Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot side preferred to settle the issue by supporting a new partnership based on the existence of two peoples and where Turkey and Greece would again be the joint guarantors, President Denktas said in this way a new solid partnership would be established in Cyprus.

Speaking to the Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK), Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, pointing out that changing the format of the Cyprus negotiation process, which has been continuing for approximately one month, to proximity talks was much more beneficial, said: "In this process, concerns, opinions and proposals will be submitted more sincerely since they won’t be submitted to the other side".

Prime Minister Talat said: "During this past month, the two sides submitted their requested changes piece by piece. In this process, except for the map, the two sides put forward their opinions and proposed changes on the Annan Plan. Within this framework, a text of approximately 200-pages was submitted by the Greek Cypriot side and a 100-page text by the Turkish Cypriot side. The UN is now carrying out a study in sections to see if reconciliation can be achieved or not between the two sides on the issues that are important for them. Yesterday (March 15), De Soto gave the two sides this in note form and got our first reactions".

Explaining that despite no real progress being achieved during the one-month negotiation process he believed progress would be achieved, the Prime Minister said despite the deadline, the greatest handicap was President Denktas not submitting the Turkish Cypriot Founding State’s Draft Constitution.

The Prime Minister said: "There has been no rapprochement but, there is a possibility for rapprochement. Progress was not achieved in the face-to-face negotiations because the sides insisted on their opinions. We received no response from the Greek Cypriot side on issues that are of great importance for us. Naturally, the UN has not displayed a stance but both sides are trying to influence the UN. This is why there was a change in the format".

Pointing out that the success of the quadripartite talks on March 24 depended on what the level of participation would be, Prime Minister Talat said progress could be achieved if it was at a high level Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministerial level. He added that, however, if the meeting was held at the level of technicians or bureaucrats, it would be up to the UN Secretary-General to make the changes to the plan.

Drawing attention to Greece’s official objection for a high level representation in the quadripartite meeting, Prime Minister Talat said the level of participation would be determined by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and then the meeting’s location would also be identified.