NEW YORK - Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal said on Friday that ''the demand of the Greek Cypriot side and Greece for inclusion of EU in Cyprus solution process could bring in other demands, therefore Turkey and TRNC didn't accept it.''
Speaking in a news conference after the ten-hour Cyprus talks held in U.N. headquarters, Ziyal clarified the views of the Turkish side.
Recalling that the EU didn't have a demand of taking part in the process, Ziyal said that that participation of EU would take out the process from its natural course. Greece and Greek Cypriot side demanded EU to be included in Cyprus solution process.
Noting that Turkey and TRNC were positive towards the solution process from the beginning, Ziyal said that ''we don't know what proposal U.N. Secretary General will bring today. But we have told U.N. Secretary General in advance that the demand about EU was out of the frame.''
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said that they didn't expect Annan to refer to EU in his statement today.
Stressing that they felt the need to hold a news conference upon the statements of Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Panos Beglitis, Ziyal said that seven hours of the ten-hour talks passed by U.N.'s efforts to persuade Greece.
Ziyal noted that after receiving the statement of Annan, they would contact with Ankara according to the content of the text.
(Öª-AÖ) 13.02.2004