DAVOS - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that he had held a very beneficial meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Responding questions of journalists following his 45-minute meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, Annan said that Prime Minister Erdogan wanted resumption of negotiations and finding a solution to the Cyprus issue till May 1, 2004.
He said that Prime Minister Erdogan's messages had encouraged him.
Annan said that the two sides' displaying their will was obligatory for resumption of negotiation process.
Upon a question about Prime Minister Erdogan's proposal for appointment of a mediator trusted by both sides in Cyprus, Annan told reporters that he would assess the proposal carefully.
Reminding that his special envoy had been acting as mediator for years, Annan said that representatives of many countries, especially Britain and the United States, had assisted them.
He said that they would need a mediator and assistance of all countries interested in the process for resumption of the negotiation process.
When asked whether or not the Turkish side had sufficient will for a solution to the Cyprus issue, Annan said that Prime Minister Erdogan's messages had encouraged him.
Noting that Prime Minister Erdogan told him that the Turkish side had the necessary will to record progress, Annan said that he should also listen to views of the other relevant sides.
(UK-MS) 24.01.2004