PRESIDENT TALAT CYPRUS ISSUE REQUIRES STRUGGLE IN ALL AREAS

TRNC President Talat stating that the Cyprus issue has entered into a process which requires struggle in all areas said Cyprus issue is not a straight line any more but dispersed to many areas.

President Talat yesterday received representatives from Secondary School Teachers Union headed by Adnan Eraslan. Evaluating the recent developments in the Cyprus issue, Presidenet Talat pointing out that the UN Secretary General’s Undersecretary Prendergast has not submitted his report yet, and the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have contacts in US said "studies are still continuing I have limited information, at this stage, I cannot give detailed information."

Drawing attention to property cases, Talat stressed the importance of protecting the Turkish Cypriots rights in this new process without losing time.

ANNAN REQUESTED THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE MANDATE OF UNFICYP

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in his report submitted to the Security Council stating that "there was still lack of confidence between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots" asked to extent the duty of the UN Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months.

Annan in his report pointing out that although the UNFICYP powers had been reduced as 30% stability was preserved in Cyprus, said in order to create the necessary conditions for finding a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus and continue to cease-fire, no more reduction should be made in the powers of the UNFICYP. Annan requested that the UNFICYP duty which ends next week be extended until December 15, 2005.

In light of Secretary General Annan’s report, a draft resolution, prepared by the Security Council’s permanent members and the guarantor Britain, for the reduction of the powers of UNFICYP in Cyprus was agreed accepted majority vote last year in October.

With this decision the Security Council reduced the number of soldiers to 860 form 1224 and increased the number of police serving within the UNFICYP from 45 to 69.

PRENDERGAST: "SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS SHOULD BE AGREEABLE BY BOTH SIDES"

Within the framework of his visit to the region, with the aim of listening sides with regard to finding a solution to the Cyprus issue, UN Secretary General’s Undersecretary Responsible for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast, left his last destination Ankara.

Prendergast speaking at Esenboða Airport stated that he came to the region in order to understand the existing situation and said as the result of his contacts he better understand the current position of sides.

Prendergast stating that on his return to New York the would advise the Secretary General the possible options said "I want to stress that the basic responsibility for reaching peace in Cyprus rest with the sides. UN could help and encourage however the final solution should be agreeable by both sides."

Prendergast stated that it depends on the will of the sides whether the process would start or be successful.

USA PROTESTS GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION

USA protested the Greek Cypriot administration because of the critisms made by the Greek Cypriot authorities against the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Michael Klosson.

According to Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros the USA conveyed its protest against the Greek Cypriot administration to Greek Cypriot Ambassador in Washington.