LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas received on Wednesday European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen.
Denktas said the meeting was positive, stating that he and Verheugen decided not to make a statement after the meeting.
Verheugen also did not make a statement.
Verheugen will meet with leaders of political parties in TRNC today, and is expected to depart from the island following a news conference in Greek Cypriot side.
Meanwhile, A group of people from Cyprus Turk Fighter for the Islamic Faith Association protested Verheugen.
VERHEUGEN MEETS WITH LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN TRNC
Verheugen met with leaders and representatives of political parties in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
National Revival Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, Democrat Party (DP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader Huseyin Angolemli, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Reformist Initiative Party (YAP) leader Hasan Hasipoglu were in attendance at the meeting.
VERHEUGEN: THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES
Verheugen said on Wednesday that there ''were still opportunities'' for solution of Cyprus issue and added that they wanted to see a united Cyprus in the European Union.
Verheugen held a press conference that the Greek Cypriot administration would be a member of the EU as foreseen.
Products of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would be exported from the ports in the Greek Cypriot administration after approved by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Verheugen noted.
Verheugen claimed that ''there was not any other solution regarding that issue.''
It would be ''very dangerous'' for the Cyprus issue to wait for clarification of Turkey-EU relations till May 2004, Verheugen stated.
Verheugen said that there were many difficulties for both themselves and Turkey.
If they added Cyprus issue to those difficulties, everything would be more difficult, Verheugen noted.
Verheugen pointed out that they had to solve Cyprus issue before May 2004 and that it could not be made a matter of bargaining.
He visited the island due to EU membership of Greek Cypriot administration, package regarding the Turkish Cypriots, and political issue, Verheugen said.
Verheugen stated that they thought of participation of whole of the island in the future of the EU.
He saw that the Greek Cypriot politicians were determined to reach a solution within the framework of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, Verheugen said.
Verheugen noted that the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot administration was going well and they wanted accession of a united Cyprus to the EU.
Claiming that both sides would be beneficial in such a case, Verheugen said that the Greek Cypriot administration would become an EU member in May 2004 without considering the political situation.
Verheugen noted that he held a ''constructive'' meeting with officials of five political parties in TRNC and evaluated the situation.
Opposition parties in TRNC determinedly defended Annan plan and his views and said that they would do their best to start negotiations within the scope of the plan, Verheugen stated.
Verheugen pointed out that TRNC President Rauf Denktas told him that ''Annan plan was not on the table.''
Stating that they prepared a package that would contribute to increase of living standards in TRNC, Verheugen said that they wanted that package to be implemented.
Verheugen noted that very positive views were not expressed in TRNC regarding the financial assistance of the EU to TRNC and that they would extend that financial assistance.
They favored continuation of contacts in the island, Verheugen stated.
Verheugen said that ''the last responsibility was laid on the shoulders of the societies in the island.''
Replying a question, Verheugen said that they had not brought onto the agenda the position of Denktas in his meeting with officials of political parties in TRNC.
Verheugen noted that they mentioned the situation before the elections to be held in TRNC in December.
They voiced their views and evaluated EU membership of the Greek Cypriot administration and other developments, Verheugen stated.
Asked if he was optimistic about reunification of the island, Verheugen said that the problem in reunification of the island was not a problem of confidence and claimed that it was a problem of agreement. He added that ''everybody could not believe that this was the situation in an EU member.''
Verheugen noted that the real issue was whether the Greek Cypriot administration or a united Cyprus would join the EU.
They considered Cyprus as a single country, Verheugen said. He added that ''Cyprus'' would join the EU in any case and they expected Turkish Cypriots to also join.
When asked ''if a link could be established between Turkey's EU membership and Cyprus issue'' and ''if there was a new development in the package prepared by the EU for TRNC,'' Verheugen said that it would be ''very dangerous'' for the Cyprus issue to wait for clarification of Turkey-EU relations till May 2004.
Verheugen said that there were many difficulties for both themselves and Turkey.
If they added Cyprus issue to those difficulties, everything would be more difficult, Verheugen noted.
Verheugen pointed out that they had to solve Cyprus issue before May 2004 and that it could not be made a matter of bargaining.
He did not mention Turkey's EU membership in his contacts, Verheugen said.
Verheugen noted that whether it met Copenhagen criteria would be considered in Turkey's EU membership process and that negotiations would be started in case they saw that criteria had been met.
Turkish government were conducting important work regarding the issue, Verheugen said.
Verheugen stated that EU's package for TRNC was sufficient and that they would authorize the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce for export of Turkish Cypriot products.
Turkish Cypriot products would be exported from ports in the Greek Cypriot administration with the consent of Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Verheugen said.
Verheugen claimed that ''it was the only possibility in their hand and the only possible solution.''
Asked if ''membership of a united Cyprus to the EU was necessary under the 1960 treaties'', Verheugen said that he did not accept that view and that the EU thought that the two nations in the island should unite.
When asked if ''he was disappointed with his meeting with Denktas'', Verheugen responded in negative and said that there was not such thing and he did not come there with certain expectations.
Replying a question if ''dialogue with Denktas would continue'', Verheugen said that dialogue would continue but they did not set a date for a following meeting.
(BRC-AÖ) 18.06.2003