Denktas And Clerides To Meet Each Other Three Times A Week

LEFKOSA, Jan 16 (A.A) - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides will meet each other on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays within the framework of the face-to-face talks initiated to find a solution to Cyprus question.
Following tete-a-tete meeting of Denktas and Clerides on Wednesday in which United Nations (U.N) Secretary General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto as an observer, the interdelegationary meetings were held.
De Soto told reporters that the meeting was very positive and that the leaders discussed the core of the issues.
This was very encouraging, De Soto said.
Upon a question about his role, De Soto said that he would try to help the leaders in every issue.
Responding to a question if he was settling down on Cyprus, De Soto said that he would be on the island as long as the talks continued.
De Soto noted that the following meetings would be closed to the press and that they would make a statement when needed.
Denktas said that the meetings were very positive and noted that they would meet again on Monday while Clerides did not make any statement.

DENKTAS SAYS CLERIDES AND HE FOCUSED ON GENERAL FRAMEWORK
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Denktas said that the meeting was good and positive, adding, ''Clerides and I have held a face-to-face meeting. We will start to have meeting as delegations at 5 o'clock p.m. on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.''
When asked what kind of a programme would be prepared for the content of the talks, Denktas said, ''every necessary thing will be discussed beginning from Monday and functions of both sides will be taken up.''
When asked what they had discussed the same day, Denktas said, ''we have focused on the general framework.''

TRNC CABINET REITERATES ITS FULL SUPPORT TO DENKTAS
The Council of Ministers in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) reiterated its full support to Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday.
The TRNC cabinet which convened under the leadership of TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu the same day discussed the developments about Cyprus issue and the economic issues.
Speaking after the meeting, TRNC Minister Public Works and Transportation Minister Salih Miroglu said that ''the government announced from the beginning that it supported the new process in Cyprus which started by the initiative of TRNC President Rauf Denktas. The government will continue to contribute to the process in consultation with Mr. President, Miroglu said.
He added that they will meet with the delegation that will come from Turkey in the weekend to discuss the contribution of Turkey to the 2002 budget of TRNC.
FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WHICH STARTED IN CYPRUS ENCOURAGING
French Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the direct talks which started between the two leaders in Cyprus were encouraging.
Upon a question on the issue, French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Francois Rivasseau said in a news conference that the talks were encouraging in respect of searches for permanent and fair solution on the island.
Rivasseau added that France hoped these searches for solution to yield successful results, noting that they closely followed the developments.