Third Session Of Cyprus Talks Start After More Than 2-hours Delay

NEW YORK - The third session of the Cyprus talks sponsored by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan started after two hours and ten minutes delay.
During this period, Annan, his special envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and Deputy Secretary General Kieram Prendergast held shuttle diplomacy between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides which were staying in separate rooms.
At the beginning of the meeting, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos shook their hands for the first time.
Meanwhile, the TRNC delegation missed the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane which would carry them to Turkey due to the delay of the meeting so they will spend the night in New York.
Talking to reporters who asked about the reason for the delay, TRNC President Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot side was seeking for the impossible.
The meeting is under way.
(MS) 13.02.2004