LEFKOSA/ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas came to Istanbul early on Sunday before their departure for New York.
Denktas and the accompanying delegation will participate in talks on Cyprus issue in New York upon the invitation of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
They will later leave Istanbul for the United States the same day. Prof. Mumtaz Soysal will also accompany Denktas during his visit to the United States.
Prior to his departure for Istanbul, Denktas told reporters at Lefkosa's Gecitkale Airport that they were going to the United States with good will and stated, ''the aim is to reach a sound, lasting and fair agreement which will satisfy both sides. It depends on will of the two sides and steps which will be taken by the sides. We are going there with good will. We hope that we will return home with good news.''
Denktas said that they were going to New York to discuss the latest situation of Cyprus issue upon invitation of Annan and stated, ''I think that it will be a one-day meeting. But they say that it can last longer.''
GUL: EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday night that everything was going fine in Cyprus issue and that there was no negative thing.
Upon questions of reporters about Cyprus talks, Gul said that he hoped the negotiations to go well.
''Together with TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Foreign Ministry undersecretary and deputy undersecretary will also go to New York. We all hope the things to go well. We continue our efforts to this end,'' Gul added.
(EÖ-Öª) 08.02.2004