LEFKOSA - Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Thursday that making many statements about the contents of Cyprus talks could cause problems with respect to flexibility.
Asked about the statements made by TRNC President Rauf Denktas about the negotiations, Talat said they were in harmony during the talks, yet noted that everybody could have a different point of view.
When asked about his views about the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ''request for auto-censorship of press'' for the news about the ongoing Cyprus talks, Talat said everything that had happened was reflected in the Greek Cypriot press so far. ''Nevertheless'', he stated making many statements about the contents could cause problems with respect to flexibility.
Replying to a question whether or not they could reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side on any issue so far, Talat said they almost reached an agreement about convenience of assignment period of Chairmanship Council members to the EU.
Talat said they seriously discussed effective functioning of the new state so far, noting that reaching an agreement should not be expected at this point.
Stating that Greek Cypriot side only conveyed their views about effective functioning of the state so far, Talat stressed that they conveyed their general views on all issues to the Greek Cypriot side.
Talat said maps issue was included among the areas in which they presented their general views, adding that they made proposals about smoothening of borders and rate of percentages.
Talat said Greek Cypriot side wanted time from them to evaluate Wednesday's talks, yet that they did not present any evaluation.
When journalists reminded Talat the recent expenses made by the Greek Cypriot side for modernization of missiles, he said Greek Cypriots could not explain the logic of the missiles.
Talat said the side which disrupts the process in the timetable within the framework of Annan plan would pay the cost of it.
When asked whether or not they could get a satisfactory response from the EU about the issue of derogations which the Turkish side were insistent, Talat said there were several positive approaches for the derogations to become a part of EU law.
(AY) 26.02.2004