LEFKOSA (AA) - ''International efforts should be intensified on resumption of negotiations, aiming at finding a solution (to Cyprus issue)'', President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday.
Talat and US State Department Assistant Secretary for European & Eurasian Affairs Laura Kennedy held a joint press conference after their meeting in Lefkosa.
TRNC President Talat said that Turkish Cypriots supported reunification of the island, and resumption of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
Talat said that he asked the United States to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots during his meeting with Kennedy and noted that Kennedy was visiting Cyprus to see the current situation and learn what the parties were thinking.
''I guess she has had sufficient and right impressions of her trip,'' added Talat.
Talat expressed belief that the United States would launch concrete initiatives as soon as possible, and said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was thinking of sending an envoy to the island.
But, he said, the Greek Cypriot administration proposed to send a representative to New York, thinking that an envoy visiting the island could put pressure on them.
''As far as I am concerned, the Secretary General is still thinking of this option (the option to send an envoy to the island),'' stated Talat.
-PROPERTY CASES-
Touching on property cases, Talat said that not only Kennedy but also the entire world had been informed about this matter and noted that TRNC would write a letter to EU heads of state and government today regarding these cases.
Answering a question, Talat said that Kennedy had brought the message that ''the United States continued exerting efforts to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots''.
On the other hand, Kennedy said that Turkish Cypriot leadership and nation had openly showed their will for a solution, and hoped that UN Secretary General would maintain his good will mission, support a solution and resume negotiations.
Kennedy said that the United States would continue to take steps to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots and eliminate the economic inequality between the two nations (Turkish Cypriot & Greek Cypriot peoples) and expressed belief that this would speed up efforts for reunification and solution.
After her press conference with Talat, Kennedy met TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.
(BRC-MS)
2005-05-06