LEFKOSA - Cyprus negotiations which started on February 19, 2004 to find a solution to Cyprus problem on the basis of Annan plan until May 1, entered a critical period as of this week.
The Turkish and Greek Cypriot delegations headed by TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos held their 11th meeting on Monday. The sides mainly discussed security issue in the meeting.
The sides will submit their proposals about the amendments which they want to make in Annan plan on Tuesday for the last time. The Turkish side presented its proposals of amendment covering the essence of the issue which was composed of few pages at the start of the process. The Greek Cypriot side's proposals of amendment are nearly 110 pages and they have rejected all amendment proposals of the Turkish side.
The sides will continue the negotiations until March 22 and later Turkey and Greece will also take part in the process. It will become clear after this week whether or not the sides can record any progress or the things would be sorted out by the quartet conference or by the arbitration of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The sides are expected to finish talks until Wednesday about the issues presented to the two sides under four titles by U.N. special envoy Alvaro De Soto on March 5, and to start ''give-and-take'' process as of March 11, Thursday.
(Öª-AÖ) 08.03.2004