Talat: We Expect A Document Which Will Remove Our Concerns

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat who chairs the TRNC delegation during four-party talks on Cyprus issue in Switzerland said on Monday that they expected the last version of the Annan plan which would be submitted by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to sides today to remove their concerns.
Talat noted that they did not expect any change in the map.
Talat told the Turkish Agency-Cyprus (TAK) that bargains continued till Monday morning.
''The last version of the Annan plan will be submitted to sides in the meeting with participation of Turkey, Greece, TRNC and Greek Cypriot delegations,'' he said and noted that they thought that Annan would present almost whole of the plan, not draft to sides.
Talat said, ''the real plan is comprised of 150 pages, but it can reach 9 thousand pages with addition of laws prepared by technical committees in the island.''
Replying to a question, Talat said, ''I cannot make any assessment on the document without seeing it. We have received some information. We have demands and impressions, but it is wrong to talk about the document without seeing it. We expect a document which will remove our concerns and problems.''
Talat stated that they also expected the map to be submitted to sides with the new version of the plan.
In regard to news stories which said that ''28-29 percent in the last map would be reduced as a response to reduction in the number of Greek Cypriot people who would settle in north of the island, Talat said, ''we don't expect such a thing. I think the map will not change. We don't expect any change in the ratio of land. Land cannot be a response to reduction in the number of Greek Cypriots who will return to the north of the island. I received commitment on this issue.''
''We will complete examining the plan by working hard for two days day and night after its last version is submitted to the sides. The summit will end on March 31,'' he stated and noted that news stories which said that the summit could last longer were not true.
''This work will finish on March 31,'' Talat said and noted, ''I believe that a satisfactory result will come out. If it does not come out, there will be problem in referendum. That's why, we have to get a favorable result.''
Talat said, ''U.N. asked for written guaranty for referendum'' and asked, ''we have already made a law. Is there any guaranty which is more powerful than it?''

BDH LEADER AKINCI SAYS ANNAN PLAN IS BALANCED
Mustafa Akinci, the leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), one of the four political parties who have seats in the parliament of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), expressed belief on Monday that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus was ''a balanced plan.''
Akinci, who received Czech Ambassador Martin Vavra in the Greek Cypriot side, said that the plan did not foresee a ''perfect'' scenario for one side and a ''terrific'' scenario for the other.
BDH leader Akinci noted that it had been seen that some changes could be made in the Annan plan, taking into considerations demands of both Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot sides.
Akinci stated that it was not realistic to expect very big changes in the plan.
Touching on the results of local elections held in Turkey on Sunday, Akinci said that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) led by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won ''a serious victory'' in the elections.
Pointing out that Costas Caramanlis had succeeded in the parliamentary elections held in Greece a few weeks ago, Akinci said that both leaders had the opportunity to contribute to Cyprus issue, having the support of their people.
Akinci expressed belief and hope that both Turkey and Greece would seize that historic opportunity in Cyprus negotiations with the support of their people.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue on the basis of Annan plan.
According to the Cyprus negotiation road map, two sides were expected to attend a quartet conference together with guarantor powers Turkey and Greece after March 22 to discuss issues on which they could not reach any compromise in their negotiations held in the island.
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece are trying to reach compromise on several issues in ongoing negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to fly to Switzerland later in the day to join the negotiations.
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) 29.03.2004