PRESIDENT DENKTAS: " WE EXPECT A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT"

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN: "OUR AIM IS TO REACH A WIN-WIN RESULT AT CYPRUS NEGOTIATIONS"

The proposals, regarding the 4^th version of the Annan plan which was presented on Monday (29 March) by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, had been conveyed by the two parties delegations seperately to the Secretary-General.

TRNC delegation headed by Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, in a meeting with Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his delegation, presented the proposals both orally and in writing. TRNC delegation specially stressed the importance of derogations to be guaranteed as a "primary law" within the EU.

In the 4^th version of the Annan plan the Turkish Cypriot side had also objected to the special status given to Karpaz region and arrangements regarding Turkish language to become an official language of the EU after five years following the agreement and requested secure arrangements for the rehabilitation of the Turkish Cypriots who would be relocated.

Cyprus Summit, which has turned into a world summit with the participation of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis, is expected to be concluded today after finalising the Annan plan.

Meanwhile, speaking to the reporters in Burgenstock, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas said: "There is an intensive bargaining process going on. The Greek Cypriots are showing every effort to influence the Secretary-General and to change the plan as a whole in their favour. We are also carrying out necessary studies in order to change the points which are against the Turkish Cypriots. It is wrong to make any evaluations before the plan takes its final version."

Greek Government Spokesman Teodoros Rusopulos also announced the Greek sides’s objections to the Annan plan as mainly being on the issues of security and derogations.

Following the submission of the plan to the sides President Denktas made his first evaluations.

Speaking at the openning ceremony of historical Post Office building, President Denktas pointing out that he will announce his own evaluations as he recieves results from Burgenstock said: "The important thing is to reach a strong settlement which both sides will agree and the years of 63-74 will not be repeated. This is what they are struggling for and I hope they will be successful. If they succeed we will be happy otherwise, we will continue to protect and preserve our state."

Pointing out that their aim was to reach a win-win result at the Cyprus negotiations, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they were walking in this path carefully and with strong determination.

Erdogan, in his written statement, pointing out that the Turkish representatives held a meeting with UN experts this morning (30 March) and later the TRNC delegation had the same meeting, said the Turkish delegation in Burgenstock was working very hard and carrying out the negotiations and with his participation the process was continuing.

NEGOTIATION PROCESS

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

WHAT WE WANT? - Rauf R. Denktaþ, 
2 December 2003

FULL TEXT OF SPEECH MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOÐAN, IN NORTHERN CYPRUS ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

ERTUGRULOGLU CALLS UPON GREEK CYPRIOTS: "AS LONG AS YOU DON’T ACCEPT TURKISH CYPRIOTS AS EQUALS, UNPLEASANTNESS BETWEEN US WILL CONTINUE"

SPEECH GIVEN BY TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MR. RECEP TAYYIP ERDOÐAN, DURING THE CELEBTRATIONS OF TRNC'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY (15.11.2003)

PRESS RELEASE FROM TRNC'S REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN NEW YORK ABOUT THE GREEK CYPRIOT IMPRISONMENT, FINING AND DEPORTATION OF FOUR FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDYING IN TRNC UNIVERSITIES.

SERIES OF ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF TURKISH CYPRIOT VILLAGES IN SOUTH CYPRUS