ANKARA - U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman expressed on Friday hope that two sides in Cyprus would accept United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus.
Edelman and British Ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.
Following their meeting, Edelman told reporters that they took up Cyprus negotiations with Ziyal and he thanked Ziyal for Turkey's positive and constructive attitude in recent months.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Edelman stated that Turkey's this attitude helped a balanced result to meet needs of two peoples in Cyprus and expressed hope that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus would be accepted by the two peoples of the island.
Edelman noted that he had not brought any message to Ziyal and also hoped that two sides in Cyprus would see that the plan was for their benefit and therefore, they would accept it.
Westmacott said that the result of Cyprus negotiations was perfect for both of the sides as Annan had stated.
Delegations from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece joined quartet Cyprus conference in Buergenstock, Switzerland between March 24 and 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Costas Caramanlis joined the four-party meetings as of Monday.
Negotiations ended on March 31 as Annan presented his final plan to the parties. This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides in the island on April 24.
(BRC) 02.04.2004