LEFKOSA - The new negotiation process in Cyprus will start on Thursday under the supervision of U.N. Secretary General's special envoy Alvaro De Soto.
During the meeting of De Soto with the two leaders today, the agenda of the negotiations, the number of delegations' members, and the starting time of negotiations will become clear.
De Soto who met with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos today, will also meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas at 16.00 the same day.
TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas will represent TRNC during the negotiations. Consultants are also expected to take part in the Turkish Cypriot delegation according to the number to be determined during the meeting to be held with De Soto today.
The members of the technical delegations were also determined. Turkish members of the three separate committees which would work in fields of international agreements, federal laws and economic-financial issues were determined late Tuesday night as a result of the coordination among TRNC Presidential Office, Prime Ministry and Foreign Ministry. TRNC Presidential Undersecretary Ergun Olgun will give the names of the Turkish members of the committees to U.N. Secretariat General today. The members of the committees who will work under the supervision of Ergun Olgun, will be made public today.
At the end of the month, a fourth committee on issues of flag and national anthem will also be added to the technical committees which will carry out a common study by the participation of experts coming from U.N. and Turkey from time to time. The technical committees will either work in Lefkosa International Airport or Ledra Palace. The Turkish members of the committees will carry out their own studies in the old building of Ticaret Bank in Lefkosa.
On Thursday, a delegation from Foreign Ministry will come to TRNC for negotiations. In the delegation headed by Foreign Ministry's Bilateral Relations Department's Director General Ertugrul Apakan, Deniz Bolukbasi who attended the negotiation process in New York, will also take part. The Foreign Ministry delegation will stay on the island from time to time following the resumption of the negotiations. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal who played an effective role during New York negotiation process can come to TRNC towards the last stage of the negotiations.
Meanwhile EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen and the delegation composed of EU experts will come to Cyprus this evening.

TALAT RECEIVES BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MICHEL
TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat received on Wednesday Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Louis Michel.
Prior to his meeting with Michel, Talat said that they were facing a historical moment and stated that Turkish Cypriot side would do its utmost for solution of Cyprus issue.
Talat said that they would inform Michel about situation on the island and explain positions in the meeting and underlined that Turkish side was determined to reach a solution.
Stressing that they had determination for European Union (EU) membership and a new Cyprus by solving the issue, Talat said that majority of Turkish Cypriot people wanted solution and EU membership. ''We will do our best for solution,'' he noted.
Upon a question on Belgian model, Talat said that they would benefit from experiences of Belgium and added that Belgian model was taken as a model in the Annan plan.
Michel said that they would exchange views in the meeting and stated that they faced a historical point. Michel added that they hoped that a good agreement would occur.
Michel will also meet with Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) leader Mustafa Akinci.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEES' FIRST COMMON STUDY TO TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY
Turkish Cypriot side has determined part of the persons who will take part in the technical committees that will work within the scope of Cyprus negotiations starting on Thursday.
According to the written statement issued by TRNC Presidential Office on Wednesday, new members would be added to the technical committees. U.N. Secretary General's special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto was informed about the names of the committee members with a letter the same day.
The first common study of the committee on International Agreements and Federal Laws will be held on Thursday.
A briefing will be given to the committee members at TRNC Presidential Office at 6.30 p.m. today.
Approximately 50 experts, jurists and public officials had contributed to the studies of the technical committees in the previous term. This time 100 experts, academicians and public officials are expected to take part in the studies.
TRNC Presidential Office stated that the result and findings that would come out at a result of committee studies would not be final and they would be presented to the approval of the highest political will.
(EÖ-Öª-AÖ-AY) 18.02.2004