NEW YORK - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal announced on Friday that all sides accepted U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's working process regarding Cyprus, and negotiations would start on February 19.
Sources said that negotiations would take place in Cyprus.
DENKTAS: OUR PEOPLE SHOULD NOT WORRY
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday, ''our people should not worry. Our rights, sovereignty and equality will be absolutely protected.''
Speaking to reporters after a tripartite meeting on the last day of the Cyprus talks in New York, Denktas made a statement about the European Union (EU).
''We have underlined it. There are derogations necessary for our existence and rights. Everything will happen on condition of inclusion of these derogations in the EU constitution. Otherwise, nothing happens. It is a vital issue,'' he said.
Making technical explanation about derogations, Denktas said, ''some derogations can be damaged by the courts by saying that they are against the EU norms. In order not to have these removed, the agreement we have made with the Greek Cypriots should be put into the EU acquis and accession agreement as their law. It is very important and a vital matter. We have focused on it.''
U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: PARTIES HAVE COMMITTED TO NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH
United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Friday that the parties in Cyprus had committed to negotiating in good faith to solve Cyprus issue.
Annan read a statement after tripartite talks in Cyprus were completed.
In his statement, Annan said that the parties had committed to negotiating in good faith on the basis of his plan to achieve a comprehensive settlement of Cyprus issue.
Annan noted, ''following three days of meetings and consultations, I am pleased to announce that the parties have committed to negotiating in good faith on the basis of my plan to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem through separate and simultaneous referenda before 1 May 2004.''
''To this end, the parties will seek to agree on changes and to complete the plan in all respects by 22 March 2004, within the framework of my mission of good offices, so as to produce a finalized text. In the absence of such agreement, I would convene a meeting of the two sides - with the participation of Greece and Turkey in order to lend their collaboration - in a concentrated effort to agree on a finalized text by 29 March. As a final resort, in the event of a continuing and persistent deadlock, the parties have invited me to use my discretion to finalize the text to be submitted to referenda on the basis of my plan,'' Annan noted.
Annan stated that the guarantor powers had signified their commitment to that process and to meeting their obligations under it.
''I welcome these commitments as well as the assurances of the European Union to accommodate a settlement and the offer of technical assistance by the European Commission,'' Annan said.
Annan announced that the talks would re-convene in Cyprus on February 19, with direct meetings between the two parties in the presence of his Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto.
''I commend the constructive spirit and political will displayed by both parties, as well as by Greece and Turkey, to reach this agreement,'' Annan stressed.
Annan added, ''all concerned now face historic responsibilities to bring about a just and lasting peace in Cyprus. I wish them well, and look forward to working closely with them.''
(AA) 13.02.2004