U.S. Special Coordinator For Cyprus Weston In Foreign Ministry

ANKARA - U.S. Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston met on Monday with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Cyprus Department Director General Ertugrul Apakan.
In a brief statement he made after the meeting, Weston said they discussed Cyprus, noting that the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere.
Weston said he would proceed to Athens and Cyprus following his meetings in Ankara.
Diplomatic sources said Weston stated that solution of Cyprus question should be focused on mostly after elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Weston said Cyprus plan of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was still a reference for the United States, stressing that Turkish side should also contribute to the plan.
Turkish side at the meeting recalled the oppositions of the Greek Cypriot side to elections in TRNC, and conveyed the uneasiness over creation of the impression that, ''Turkey and TRNC President Rauf Denktas intervene in elections.''
Turkish officials also stated that invitation of international observers to the elections was an indication of good will, stating that concerns of the Greek Cypriot side that ''TRNC would be recognized'' was groundless.
(AY) 20.10.2003