Foreign Ministry: Presence Of Political Personalities At Quartet Meetings Will Be More Beneficial

ANKARA - Ankara thinks that the presence of political personalities at quartet meetings, which will be held with the participation of guarantor countries Turkey and Greece in case a result cannot be taken after Cyprus talks, will be more beneficial.
Upon a question, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan told reporters on Thursday that they thought the presence of political personalities at quartet meetings would be more beneficial.
Speaking about the news reports alleging that TRNC President Rauf Denktas would withdraw from the negotiations, Tan said they did not have any information in this respect and that meetings were continuing.
Noting that the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will come to Ankara after Cyprus talks tomorrow, Tan said mutual political consultations were needed throughout the talks and that de Soto would pay his visit within that scope.
Tan said that de Soto would have meetings with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Foreign Ministry Cyprus Department officials and also he could meet with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
De Soto is expected to leave Ankara on Saturday.
(GC-AY) 04.03.2004