Turkey And TRNC Have No Difference Of Opinion About Sine Qua Non Conditions

ANKARA - Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) did not have any difference of opinion about sine qua non conditions related with Cyprus issue, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
The sources noted that Ankara and TRNC continued preparations before the quartet conference to be held among TRNC, the Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece in Switzerland as a part of ongoing Cyprus negotiations.
Diplomatic sources stated that meetings scheduled to begin in Switzerland the following week would not be like Camp David meetings.
The sources pointed out that the quartet conference was expected to start in the level of foreign ministers on March 24.
Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis signaled Ankara that he would join the first part of meetings. In this case, foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece are expected to go to Brussels to attend the European Union (EU) summit on March 25-26 after they initiated the quartet conference and then come back to Switzerland to take part in the quartet meetings.
After TRNC President Rauf Denktas decided not to go to Switzerland for the quartet conference, diplomatic initiatives between Turkey and TRNC would be increased, the sources pointed out.
The sources stated that Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul could speak to TRNC President Rauf Denktas by phone later in the day.
The sources said that Ankara would give the message in its consultations with TRNC that TRNC President Denktas` participation in the quartet conference would be beneficial for the negotiation process.
Noting that Denktas` uneasiness about the issue was not clear, the sources said that Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation which was currently in the island continued consultations with TRNC government.
The sources stated that Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin might also go to TRNC but details of this visit was not clear yet.
The sources said that Ankara and TRNC did not have any difference of opinion about those sine qua non conditions.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan plan.
If sides fail to reach a solution till March 22, a quartet conference will take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.
U.N. Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks left in the 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.

GUL SPEAKS WITH TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS BY PHONE
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul spoke with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas by phone, sources said on Friday.
The sources noted that Gul gave Denktas the message that his participation in the four-party conference to take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece in Switzerland would be good.
Denktas said that he was sorry because he announced that he would not go to Switzerland to attend the quartet conference before informing Ankara, the sources added.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan plan.
If sides fail to reach a solution till March 22, a quartet conference will take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.
U.N. Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks left in the 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.
TRNC President Denktas announced on Wednesday that he would not go to Switzerland to join the four-party conference which would be held as a part of ongoing Cyprus negotiations.

TRNC FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SHOULD JOIN QUARTET CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN SWITZERLAND
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said on Friday that his father and TRNC President Rauf Denktas should join the quartet conference to be held in Switzerland as a part of Cyprus negotiations.
Denktas told a press conference that if TRNC President Denktas was to participate in the quartet meetings to take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece in Switzerland, Turkish Cypriot side would have more influence on that conference and asked Rauf Denktas to reconsider his decision not to attend the conference.
``I think we will have a weaker position in the conference if President Denktas stays in Cyprus and we only participate in the meetings as the TRNC government. Moreover, we will be in a more difficult situation in Switzerland if we go to this country without setting our priorities related with our red lines (sine qua non conditions) in talks taking place in the island,`` Denktas said.
Denktas noted, ``President Denktas, TRNC government and Ankara government should definitely agree on priorities related with red lines set together with Turkey. If we don`t agree on these priorities before we leave for Switzerland, as the Democrat Party, we will naturally have to reconsider our decision on whether or not to go to Switzerland.``
Stating that there was no reason to dissolve TRNC government at the moment, Denktas said that the coalition government of TRNC was working in harmony.
Denktas added, ``but, we can think of dissolving the government if a different kind of politics emerges.``
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan plan.
If sides fail to reach a solution till March 22, a quartet conference will take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.
U.N. Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks left in the 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-AÖ) 19.03.2004