ANKARA - Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''a very serious and intense working period awaits us in regard to preparatory efforts for the meeting to be held with the participation of Turkey and Greece under the negotiation process aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.''
Together with TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, Prime Minister Talat met with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Thursday.
Replying to questions of journalists following the meeting, Prime Minister Talat said, ''the take-and-give process will start as of Friday. We came to Ankara since we needed to make assessments prior to beginning of this process. Whenever it is necessary, we will meet with Turkish officials again. A very serious and intense working period awaits us in regard to preparatory efforts for the meeting to be held with the participation of Turkey and Greece under the negotiation process.''
Recalling that the negotiation process in the island would end on March 22, Prime Minister Talat told reporters, ''the quadrilateral meetings will start in a small place between Zurich and Bern on March 24. As you know, Turkey wants to attend the meetings on the highest level. We have been supporting this proposal. We requested the meeting to be held on the level of prime ministers.''
(UK) 11.03.2004