NEW YORK - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has presented a written three-stage proposal to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was positive about the proposal.
The Greek Cypriot side is expected to announce on Thursday whether or not it will accept the proposal.
Following the second-days Cyprus talks in New York, the United States, TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said, ''we have presented a proposal in order to find a sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue. It is a proposal of overcoming the current deadlock. United Nations Secretary General Annan is positive about the proposal. The Greek Cypriot side will give a response to the proposal on Thursday. If the Greek Cypriot side responds our proposal in the affirmative, negotiations will start on February 16, 2004.''
The sides are scheduled to come together for the third time at 22.00 Turkish local time today.
Following the meeting, the sides will leave New York for Cyprus at about 23.00 Turkish local time.
Foreign Minister Denktas refrained from giving detailed information about the proposal due to media blackout.
However, sources said that the proposal was composed of three stages.
Under the proposal, if the Greek Cypriot side accepts the proposal, the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot sides will carry out the negotiation process and try to reach a compromise in the first stage between February 15 and 20.
United Nations Secretary General Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will be in attendance at the negotiations.
If the sides fail to reach a compromise in the first stage, the second stage will start.
Ankara and Athens are envisaged to take action by putting pressure on the sides to remove disagreements.
If the sides cannot reach a compromise in the second stage, United Nations Secretary General Annan will fill the blanks in co-operation with Turkey and Greece.
The TRNC announced that it would accept Annan's filling the blanks in the third stage.
In that case, Annan will act together with Turkey and Greece, and prepare the plan till March 31.
A referendum is envisaged to be held on both sides in Cyprus on April 21 on the final agreement.
DENKTAS: TURKEY PREPARED THE PLAN
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Wednesday that the plan which was proposed by TRNC to overcome the bottlenecks, was prepared by Turkey and stressed that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was not left as the unique referee within the plan.
Speaking to reporters after details of TRNC's proposal were leaked to the press, Denktas said, ''Turkey found this formula. It is a good and nice formula.''
Stating that both Turkey and Greece had to join the process, Denktas said, ''guarantor countries should also put their hands under the stone.''
Denktas said Annan was not left as the only authority about filling the blanks, and that this was a ''valve'' for them, noting that Annan also considered the proposal as positive.
A diplomatic source told A.A that Greek Cypriots was put under difficulty following proposal of TRNC.
The diplomatic source said, ''the Greek Cypriot delegation, which based all its strategies on the so-called intransigent attitude of TRNC President Denktas, was amazed by the extremely constructive proposal of TRNC.''
TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas said they agreed that the meeting, which is expected to start at 22.00 Turkish local time on Thursday, would last for 40 minutes. Greek Cypriot side will announce whether or not it accepted TRNC's proposal.
In case Greek Cypriot side responds affirmatively to the proposal, the negotiations would start as of Monday. The talks will not start in case the response is negative.
DENKTAS: ''I DO NOT SUPPOSE THAT GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE WILL REJECT OUR PROPOSAL''
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''I do not suppose that the Greek Cypriot side will reject our proposal to resume Cyprus negotiations under control of the United Nations.''
Addressing a group of journalists at New York's Millennium Hotel, Denktas said, ''I do not suppose that the Greek Cypriot side will reject our proposal to resume Cyprus negotiations under control of the United Nations. Rejection will not be beneficial for them. On the other side, they can present another proposal.''
''According to the plan of United Nations, if the sides fail to overcome their dispute, Annan plan will be put into practice without any change. It is unacceptable for both sides in Cyprus. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the sides to explain their views. We presented the proposal at this point. Annan described our proposal as wise,'' he said.
President Denktas added, ''the Greek Cypriot side has been holding talks with Greece over our proposal. We expect them to give response today.''
(AA) 12.02.2004