ANKARA - U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston came to Ankara on Monday as a part of his tour to the region.
Weston told reporters that the only real solution of Cyprus issue was passing through negotiations taking Annan plan as the basis.
Expressing his belief that negotiations should be started and completed as soon as possible, Weston said that it was a priority for the Cypriots on the road to European Union (EU) accession.
When asked about his views on words of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas who accused the United States of interfering in elections, Weston said that they were strong supporters of solution of Cyprus issue.
Weston noted that they believed that the real solution of Cyprus issue was passing through negotiations taking Annan plan as the basis.
Expressing belief that those negotiations should start and completed as soon as possible, Weston said that they did not see it as an intervention although Denktas thought so.
Replying to a question, Weston said that some concerns over elections to be held in TRNC in December were brought onto agenda and one of them were related with electoral list. He pointed out that it was also an issue which concerned some lawsuits in TRNC.
Weston stated that they were not their personal problems and many people of TRNC had similar concerns.
He would take up all those issues in his meetings in Ankara, Weston said.
Weston noted that he would exchange views about Cyprus issue which had become a more urgent issue with developments like elections in TRNC, the EU Commission's progress report which linked Turkey's EU membership process and settlement of Cyprus issue.
Drawing attention that he was paying his visit to Turkey immediately after Saturday's bomb attacks in Istanbul, Weston expressed deep sorrow felt by American people over the attacks.
Expressing his condolences, Weston recalled words of U.S. President George W. Bush that he was with friend and ally Turkey in fight against terrorism.
(BRC-AY) 17.11.2003