LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Tuesday that indirect talks were more fruitful when compared with the ongoing Cyprus negotiations between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side.
Talat told Turkish Agency-Cyprus (TAK) that change of format in the ongoing Cyprus negotiations from direct to indirect talks was more beneficial.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side had started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
Talat said that two sides would more sincerely express their concerns, views and lay down their proposals in the indirect talks when compared with the direct talks since the other side was not present in indirect talks.
Although there had not been any serious progress in the one-month negotiation process, they believed that there would be some developments, Talat stated.
Talat noted that TRNC President Rauf Denktas had not presented ''Turkish Cypriot Founder State Constitution Draft'' in the ongoing negotiations despite the schedule and defined it as the most negative development in the process.
Drawing attention to Denktas' statements that he could withdraw from talks, Talat said, ''this will be very dangerous. He doesn't have this right.''
Talat expressed uneasiness with the campaigns about referendum and said, ''when bargaining continues, neither 'pro' or 'con' campaigns are beneficial. I only defend that a solution is necessary.''
Two sides proposed changes they wanted in the plan in one months of time which had passed since the talks had been resumed on February 19, Talat said.
Talat noted that sides had expressed their views and put forward their proposals for changes in the plan except the map in that process.
The Greek Cypriot side put forth about 200 texts while the number of texts put forward by the Turkish side was about 100 in one months of time, Talat stated.
Talat said, ''the U.N. is now working on whether or not sides can reach a compromise on issues they attach importance. De Soto presented us a text about all these issues and learned about our first impressions. This process will continue this way. They are trying to reconcile two sides and to see how close sides could approach each other.''
Success of quartet conference to take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece after March 22 depended on the level of participation from two guarantor states, Talat pointed out.
Talat said, ''progress can be recorded in this conference in case Turkey and Greece attend the meeting in the high-level, that is, in the level of foreign ministers or prime ministers. But, if the meeting is held in the level of technicians or bureaucrats, U.N. Secretary General will be the one who will make the changes in the plan. If the quartet conference is to be held in the high-level, there is no need to go to one town of Switzerland. In this case, it can be held in a closer place.''
When he was recalled that Denktas had announced that he ''could withdraw'' from negotiations, Talat said, ''Denktas' withdrawal from negotiations when the process continues will be very harmful and dangerous. It will be very bad for interests of Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish side will be kept responsible for interruption of the process. If he had withdrawn from negotiations at the beginning of the process, it might have been accepted. But, it will be very dangerous at this stage of the process. He is obliged to be in the process till the very last moment. Denktas doesn't have the right to interrupt the process.''
Touching on TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, who was a coalition partner and who was in the negotiation delegation, Talat said, ''we don't have any problems at the moment. We should act altogether. We should act altogether as the government and as the negotiation delegation. Although there are sometimes conflicts between us, we are trying to overcome them.''
Asked whether Serdar Denktas would be affected if President Denktas withdrew from talks, Talat said, ''Mr. Serdar Denktas is constructive and positive when solving problems.''
Talat pointed out that he did not expect radical changes in the plan and therefore, the votes in the referendum would be very close.
Turkey's attitude would be very effective on the result of the referendum, Talat stated.
Responding to comments that ''he was ineffective beside President Denktas in negotiation process,'' Talat said, ''we knew that there would be difficulties when starting this process. And, it is a difficult process. But, what is important for me is to succeed in this process. Denktas is the president and negotiator. I didn't make this decision and I would not take such a decision if I was able to decide. I was involved in this process, being aware of this fact and I believe that I have a very positive role. This will clearly be seen at the end of the negotiation process. People can make different comments on the process since they don't know the possible changes in the plan.''
Asked about the news that a summit would be held in Ankara with his and Denktas' participation on Monday before the quartet conference began, Talat said, ''neither I nor Denktas have received such an invitation or information yet.''
If sides can't reach a settlement till March 22, quartet conference will start among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.
U.N. Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks if participants can't reach any compromise in quartet meetings, and the text to be formed at the end of all these initiatives will be voted in referenda to be held synchronously in the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides on April 20.
(BRC) 16.03.2004