ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has come together with Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at a luncheon.
Responding questions of journalists prior to the luncheon hosted at the residence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gul said on Tuesday, ''as you know, Prime Minister Talat came to Ankara as guest of the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). We will exchange views on many issues.''
''We hope that the sides in Cyprus will find a satisfactory, fair and lasting solution protecting future of the Turkish Cypriots before May 1, 2004. Both Turkish and TRNC sides will try to do their utmost to this end,'' he added.
Meanwhile, TRNC Prime Minister Talat said in his part, ''this is not an official visit. I came to Ankara under a work to be carried out with the TOBB.''
Pointing out that they had been going through a critical period in regard to efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus question, Prime Minister Talat said, ''we have some very serious initiatives and preparatory works about the Cyprus question. We will expend efforts to solve the Cyprus question by holding consultations in Turkey. Our target is to find a fair and lasting solution till May of 2004.''
Talat added that he was scheduled to come to Turkey together with TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, however, Denktas could not join him due to his busy program.
(UK-AY) 20.01.2004