LEFKOSA - Mehmet Ali Talat, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Thursday that date of resorting Annan Plan to referendum has not become definite yet.
Holding a press conference on Thursday for the first time after his appointment as the prime minister in January, Talat replied to questions of reporters about new negotiation process on Cyprus and recent decisions of the government.
Stating that this was an unreturnable process, Talat said they would not neglect need of their people to get information in this process in which they tried to protect the interests of Turkish Cypriot people. ''However,'' he noted, ''this should not give damage to the process.''
When asked how he considered the possibility of one of the two sides' saying ''no'' in the referendum, Talat said this was a weak possibility.
Talat said they also have the task of proving accession of TRNC to the EU noting that they formed a coordination center in this respect, and that they appointed Peker Turgut as chief negotiator with the EU.
Talat said they should have ''reasonable and logical'' proposals against the Greek Cypriots, stating that this was a very difficult process and that efforts were underway to bring different views together. Talat said, ''talks focus on how Annan plan can be amended taking Annan plan as basis.''
Talat said the Turkish side presented a document to the Greek Cypriot side including views of Turkish side as a whole, noting that Greek Cypriot side did not present such a document to them including their views totally.
Talat said the Greek Cypriot side only conveyed their views about formation of chairmanship council.
Pointing out the requirement of issuing a decision for referendum under internal law within the framework of Annan plan, Talat said they could not yet issue this decision as the date of referendum could not be set yet.
(AY) 26.02.2004