Annan: E.U. Is Not Included In Process

NEW YORK - The three-stage plan presented by Turkish side on the second day of meetings and consultations on Cyprus in New York exactly took place in the final package of proposal prepared by United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Annan's final document of proposal which had been approved by parties earlier on Friday said, ''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 Annan plan.''
Diplomatic sources defined the above mentioned stages in Cyprus talks process as the success of Turkish side.
-EU ISN'T INTERVENOR-
Meanwhile, the Greek proposal to include European Union (EU) in the negotiation process which was strictly objected by the Turkish side was not included in Annan's statement on Cyprus.
In return, Annan had announced in his press conference that EU would extend not only technical assistance to constitutional and legal fields, but also financial and fiscal assistance.
-DENKTAS MEETS WITH WESTON-
In the meantime, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas continued his meetings on Friday.
Denktas met with U.S. Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston in the afternoon and evaluated the recent stage reached in talks.
-TRNC DELEGATION CAN'T LEAVE NEW YORK-
TRNC delegation which planned to leave New York on Thursday in case consultations lasted short can't leave the United States on Friday due to heavy snowfall and unfavorable weather conditions.
The delegation which planned to return to Turkey on Friday evening will spend the night in New York since Turkish Airlines (THY) Istanbul-New York flight was cancelled due to snowfall.
TRNC delegation is expected to return to the island on Saturday via Istanbul.
(BRC-AÖ) 13.02.2004