LEFKOSA - Delegations of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the United Democrats Party (EDI) in Greek Cypriot administration evaluated United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for the solution of Cyprus question in a meeting on Friday.
CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat and EDI leader George Vasiliu, head of the negotiation team of the Greek Cypriot administration with the European Union (EU), held a joint press conference following the meeting.
Talat said that time was vital for TRNC and added that the calendar in the Annan's plan was important. He noted that ''the plan and calendar could not be separated from each other.''
Stating that ''CTP considered Annan's plan as a historic opportunity'', Talat said that ''they foresaw that negotiations should be launched immediately after accepting the plan as a ground for negotiations and it should be concluded till Copenhagen summit.''
Talat said that they explained provisions of the plan which made Turkish Cypriot people concerned and added that the Greek Cypriot administration also explained their concerns over the plan at their meeting.
''We understand them as they understand us and we will try to make every contribution to each other,'' Talat said.
Talat claimed that ''the period after December 12 would be more difficult for Turkish Cypriots.''
Vasiliu claimed that the Greek Cypriot administration's membership process should continue even if negotiations on Cyprus are not concluded. He said that ''however, reuniting would continue to be their first target.''
Stating that they came to the meeting upon the invitation of CTP, Vasiliu said that the only issue on their agenda was Annan's plan. He noted that the plan should be accepted as a ground for negotiations.
Vasiliu said that negotiations should be launched immediately after the adoption of the plan in order to abide by the calender in the plan. He stated that ''the plan was enabling a fair ground for an agreement on Cyprus question although there were factors which could be asked to be changed by the two sides in the island.''
Noting that a united Cyprus which was a member of the EU had a bright future, Vasiliu said that ''it would be a very saddening thing if that opportunity was missed.'' He sincerely hoped that TRNC President Rauf Denktas would accept the plan in the end and serious negotiations would start.
He said that everybody knew that Cyprus would be invited for membership to the EU within a month when the plan was presented to the sides and added that they announced that they accepted Annan's plan and they were open to negotiations.