ANKARA - U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston met on Wednesday with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and officials of concerned departments of the Ministry.
Following his meetings in the Foreign Ministry, Weston told reporters that his meetings were a preparation for a series of meetings to be held on Cyprus issue in coming days.
Weston said that he had a quick and short visit to Turkey, adding that his meetings were warm, friendly and constructive.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman also attended the meeting between Weston and Ziyal.
Sources said that Weston stressed the need to find a solution to Cyprus issue as soon as possible and pointed to importance of efforts serving that goal.
Ankara expressed its determination to settle the issue in the meeting while underlined the need that efforts which would help the process should not only be expected from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The sources said that Ankara did not inform Weston about ongoing preparations for solution of Cyprus issue.
The meeting was held as part of process to solve Cyprus issue, the sources noted.
The sources added that the meeting between Ziyal and Weston was not a preparation for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with U.S. President George Bush which would take place in the following week.
(BRC) 21.01.2004