LEFKOSA - United Nations (U.N.) Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast said on Thursday that Cyprus negotiations would continue in Switzerland and those who would not join negotiations would remain out of the process.
Prendergast completed his meetings in Cyprus and flew to New York.
Prior to his departure, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Prendergast told reporters that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan would fill in the blanks left in his plan if Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side could not reach any compromise on those issues.
Prendergast expressed hope that sides in Cyprus would agree on more issues.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Prendergast came to Cyprus on Tuesday to hold consultations with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side and to receive information about recent developments in Cyprus negotiations.
Prendergast met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat. The meeting between Talat and Prendergast took place in the TRNC Prime Ministry building. This was the first time that a high-level international official visited TRNC Prime Ministry.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Prendergast had come to the island on March 2 and held separate meetings with Denktas and Papadopoulos. After his meetings, Prendergast had returned to New York and presented a report to Annan.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan.
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 left in his plan 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) 18.03.2004