DAVOS - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to change his special envoy Alvaro de Soto without mentioning his name.
Holding a press conference in Davos city of Switzerland on Saturday, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''my statement about appointment of a mediator was misunderstood. During my meeting with United Nations Secretary General Annan, I told him that we had been supporting his good-will mission. Mr. Annan has appointed some people under his mission. However, he cannot follow up all details about these people.''
Erdogan added that Annan had noted down his words, and told him that he would assess them.
Meanwhile, Edward Mortimer from United Nations Secretary General Annan's office, confirmed that Turkey had requested Annan to change his special envoy to Cyprus.
Mortimer told the A.A that Prime Minister Erdogan did not mention the name of De Soto. He said that Annan did not give any positive or negative response, but noted down the request.
(UK-MS) 25.01.2004