A New Process Starts On Cyprus Question

LEFKOSA, Jan 16 (A.A) - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides started the direct talks in order to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus question.
The direct talk process started when President Denktas launched several initiatives, saying, ''I do not consider developments on the Cyprus question positive. Therefore, I want to hold a face-to-face meeting with Clerides.''
President Denktas sent letter to Clerides in November of 2001, and invited him to hold a face-to-face meeting.
The two leaders came together in Lefkosa on December 4, 2001 for the first time in four years.
Upon request of Clerides, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Representative Alvaro de Soto also attended the meeting.
Later, Clerides responded President Denktas's invitation for a dinner on December 5 in the affirmative. He proceeded to the TRNC to partake in the dinner for the first time in 26 years.
In return, Clerides invited President Denktas to a dinner in his residence. President Denktas proceeded to the Greek Cypriot side for the first time in 27 years and partook in the dinner in Clerides' residence.
Denktas and Clerides came together for three times in December.
Face-to-face talks are planned to continue till a lasting solution is found. Talks are taking place in a building near the Lefkosa International Airport in buffer zone. The building was restored and prepared for the direct talks.
De Soto is attending the meeting as an observer on behalf of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Deputy Special Representative Robert Dann, Swiss Constitution Expert Didier Psirter and Madeline Garlick are accompanying de Soto.
Greek Cypriot Undersecretary Pandelis Kuros, Greek Cypriot administration Spokesman Mihalis Papapetrou and Chief Prosecutor Alekos Markides are accompanying Clerides.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Undersecretary Ergun Olgun is accompanying President Denktas.
During their meeting on December 4, 2001, Denktas and Clerides decided to start direct talks process.
The two leaders reached compromise on holding the direct talks without preconditions.
Denktas and Clerides have accepted to continue the negotiations till an integrative agreement is reached within framework of good will.
Meanwhile, the issue of missing people was taken up at the dinner hosted in Clerides' residence on December 29, 2001.
Denktas and Clerides held two meetings on January 11, and discussed the issue of missing people. Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot representatives at the United Nations Missing People Committee attended the second meeting.
During the meeting, the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side decided to exchange documents about missing people on January 14.
The exchange of documents were cancelled after the Greek Cypriot side failed to complete its preparations.
TRNC authorities stated that they had completed their preparations, documents were ready, and that they were waiting for the Greek Cypriot side to be ready.
If the Greek Cypriot side brings documents, documents about missing people are expected to be exchanged at today's meeting.
Earlier, President Denktas said, ''issue of missing people will be kept separate from the face-to-face talks in which United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Representative Alvaro De Soto will attend as an observer. Both sides have been expending efforts to solve the problem of missing people in a humanitarian manner.''
Negotiations on the issue of missing people are kept separate from the face-to-face talks.