LEFKOSA - Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Wednesday that give and take process would start in Cyprus talks, stating that next process would be tense.
Talat said news black out could enter into force in give and take process to record progress.
Talat and TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas left for Turkey to have meetings regarding the process reached in Cyprus talks.
Speaking at Gecitkale Airport, Talat said U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto gave a one-day break to talks so that the sides would get prepared for give and take process.
Asked if the sides reached an agreement not to make statements to press in give and take process, Talat said there was nothing like this. ''However'', he noted the sides may not give information to the press and that this was his individual view.
Talat said making continuos speculations about the issue that was put on the table for give and take process could make the sides feel uneasy, stating that, ''this is only a view. May be everything will be open.''
Pointing out that a closed session was made while Cyprus issue was under discussion in the parliament, Talat said the goal was not to hide something from people but to prevent speculations.
Serdar Denktas in his part said the sides stated their views on the negotiation table, stressing that, ''now that where to step back and where to take step. This will probably be somewhat closed. Of course our parliament will be given information.''
Serdar Denktas said news blackout would be natural to prevent the sides from feeling uneasy in give and take process.
Talat and Denktas are expected to return to the island on Thursday evening.
(AY) 10.03.2004