LEFKOSA - Meeting between President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos ended on Friday.
The fifth session of Cyprus negotiations aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of the Annan plan by May 1 lasted for about two hours.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan`s Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto is participating in talks as observer.
The Cyprus talks started on February 19.

DENKTAS: WE DISCUSS `GIVE-AND-TAKE` PROCESS, BUT CANNOT PROGRESS IN DESIRED LEVEL
Denktas held a news conference and gave information about the content of today`s Cyprus negotiations.
When a journalist asked, ``will it be possible to start a `give-and-take` process according to the timetable that was set and will it be possible to start productive negotiations,`` Denktas said, ``we are currently in give-and-take process. We speak in this process, but there is no progress. Yet, we will continue to do our best. This is a binding duty of us to our people. At the same time, this is a duty of us to people in Turkey who have expectations.``
Denktas said, ``we can not lead anywhere without Turkey. We can not leave Turkey. It is the duty of all of us to show them that everything has been done with good will.``
When journalists reminded Denktas that U.S. State Department Cyprus Special Coordinator Thomas Weston would visit Cyprus on Sunday and asked if the visit would have any effect on the process, he said, ``his duty is also to carry out necessary examinations, to encourage the sides and to get information. They appointed him as the coordinator. So he naturally considers being around as his task. We have no objections to this.``
Replying to another question, Denktas said U.S. Ambassador to Southern Cyprus Michale Klasson, whom he met on Thursday, gave information about the visit.
Denktas described the news reports, which appeared in Greek Cypriot media that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan would call for a ``six way conference`` in the coming stages of Cyprus negotiations, as ``hearsay for the time being``.
When journalists reminded Denktas the news reports in Greek Cypriot media claiming that he wanted full membership of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU to be postponed for two years, Denktas said, ``it is not a matter of unwillingness. This is a practical approach. They took Greek Cypriots as `Cyprus` and made an agreement with Greek Cypriots. This agreement defines Greek Cypriots as `legal Cyprus Republic`. They mentioned us as community. Neither an invitation came to us nor they asked what our demands were during the period when they signed this agreement with Greek Cypriots.``
Denktas said, ``there is a rumor among our people that we had not accepted this invitation. I insistently say that it was the ``Cyprus Republic government`` which received the invitation. They invited us saying, `you have trivial disagreements in Annan plan. You also come and solve this question so that a united Cyprus may enter`. This was not something we could do. There was not trivial disagreements, there were big disagreements, and they still exist. The EU said they took a very wrong decision and said `we took Cyprus with the hope and belief that they would help negotiations.` However, they saw that it was the Greek Cypriot side which they accepted. Now that they rush for uniting Cyprus. We will see...``
When Denktas was reminded that there were news reports that Britain would be involved in negotiations after the United States, he said, ``whoever joins, will join only stage of getting information. They have no other authority. We will continue to give them necessary information and tell them the truths. They will evaluate the information we have given.``
DENKTAS: ``WE DISCUSSED GREEK CYPRIOT DOCUMENT ON EU ISSUES``
Denktas said Greek Cypriot side presented a second document at the meeting and that a response would be given to this document on Monday. Denktas said they would also present their demands on the same issues.
Denktas said what Greek Cypriots wanted to do was to amend a formula to a great extent on the issue which had been agreed in the Annan plan in the level of committees. Denktas said, ``they say they tried to amend it without disrupting Turkish-Greek balance and to make it more practical, but we will examine this. We will see why they amended a formula that was considered as appropriate in the committee or whether or not it will be right to amend this formula.``
Denktas said Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said that they rejected the document presented by the Turkish Cypriot side contradicted Annan plan and they rejected it as a whole, ``nothing like this happened or said today. We asked them to give us a document showing their intentions for amendment just like we did. They do not give it as a whole. They are giving the document in very small parts. We think that it would be beneficial if they give it as a whole to record rapid progress and evaluate well the parts that have been given. We are insistent on this. They said they could give it in a few days. We will wait.``
Recalling that around 40-44 laws, which the joint state needed and which were determined in the recent letter of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan should be passed from the committees before resorting to referendum, Denktas said a very big argument was made as this issue was being discussed.
Denktas said, ``Papadopoulos says `I also told it in The Hague. They are 104 laws. Ten more laws passed in Brussels so that there are 114 laws. I will not resort to referendum in case all those 114 laws are not prepared before referendum. You know the committees are dealing with the laws. Those should be prepared.``
Denktas said Papadopoulos said all those because he knew there was not possibility of doing this in physical sense. Denktas said Presidency Undersecretary Ergun Olgun, who also acts as coordinator in Turkish committees and works in negotiation delegation, said it would not be possible in physical sense to pass the laws before the referendum. Denktas said, ``so, there is no meaning in being insistent on this.``
Pointing out that Papadopoulos definitely said he would not resort to referendum if those laws are not passed, Denktas said, ``may be, this is a tactical approach as they thought they would access to the EU as `Cyprus` on May 1.``
Denktas said, ``they plan to access to the EU as `Cyprus` without putting Annan plan to referendum which we know they don`t want but seemed to be willing under force. Naturally, this does not mean solution of question. This will be a step which will require us to take a counter measure. I hope they do not think this way. This stands in front of us as a serious issue.``
Denktas said Ergun Olgun ordered the committees to speed up their efforts, stating that laws as many as possible should be reviewed.
Denktas said, ``however, it is a serious issue. Our friends in committees can not approve the laws that Greek Cypriots put forward in front of us without examining the contents. Those are laws that will bind our lives in the future.``
Recalling that U.N. Secretary General`s Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto brought onto agenda the statements made by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and asked whether or not those would help the process, Denktas said there was limited time and that the people who would go to the referendum should know what happens.
Denktas said the people would more easily take decisions in the referendum if they know what happens, and noted that, ``we do not lie. We do not make propaganda. We say what has happened. Transparency is the best way for me in this short period of time.``
Replying to a question, Denktas said territory issues has not been discussed yet in talks.
Negotiations are expected to continue on March 1.
(AA) 27.02.2004