President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias will meet again on Friday July 25 where the starting date of comprehensive negotiations are expected to be announced.

The two leaders will overview the progress made by the technical committees and working groups that were set in the framework of the agreement signed by the leaders on March 21 the first time they came together. Representatives of two leaders will meet tomorrow for pre-preparation.

Greek Cypriot Leader Christofias implied that the date for substantial negotiations would be announced on their next meeting.

Greek Cypriot newspapers yesterday gave a big coverage to the proposals which Christofias has prepared to put on table on July 25. According to the newspapers Christofias will demand that the federal government should be run under a presidential system and the presidency will be rotating one, political equality should be the main element of a solution and that the economy should be unitary.

The leaders on their meeting on July 1^st had a discussion on single sovereignty and citizenship.

The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus-Chief of Mission Taye Brook Zerihoun paid a visit to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý yesterday.

Following the meeting, Turgay Avcý told reporters that he met with Mr Zerihoun for the first time and had a fruitful meeting where he expressed his views on the Cyprus issue.

Expressing his support to the negotiations held between the two leaders, Mr Avcý said that the criteria and parameters put forward during the meeting in 23rd of May should be taken into consideration.

Stating that in the latest UN report there was no reference to the existence of two equal founding states and that the memorandum signed between Britain and the Greek Cypriot Administration and other similar initiatives would create negative effects on the negotiations process, Turgay Avci said he told Mr Zerihoun that the recently launched negotiations would be the last chance for the negotiations which has been carried out for 40 years.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side which said ‘YES’ to the Annan plan in 2004 referendum will not be waiting for another 40 years, the Foreign Minister said it is necessary to find a bi-zonal solution in Cyprus which will be based on political equality of the two founding states and the guarantorship of Turkey.

Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý also pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots were waiting the EU to keep its promises, said from 259 million Euro which was the amount promised to be transferred to Turkish Cypriot people within the framework of the Financial Aid Regulation only 30-40 million Euro was transferred, studies and opening within the framework of the Direct Trade Regulation stopped, TRNC universities were facing difficulties in their Bolognia process due to Greek Cypriot pressure and many other example like Lutontown match demonstrate that the Greek Cypriots were not sincere in their desire for a settlement.

Stressing that the last chance of a settlement in Cyprus should be well evaluated Avcý pointed out that he also explained Zerihon the difficulties Turkey was facing in her EU membership process because of Greek Cypriots. Avcý said: “in spite of all these hardships, the Turkish Cypriots are standing on their own feet, the economy is developing and the Turkish Cypriots are ready for a settlement and fully support President Talat.”

Foreign Minister Avcý in his meeting with Zerihon once more stressed the basic parameters of a settlement in Cyprus as a bi-zonal solution which would be based on political equality of the two founding states.

Foreign Minister Turgay Avci also expressed the hope that UN will be more active in the negotiations process following the arrival of Alexander Downer – the UN Secretary General’s new Cyprus Special Adviser at the end of this month.