De Soto Arrives In Ankara

ANKARA - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto arrived in Ankara on Friday to hold a series of contacts.
Responding questions of journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, De Soto said that his contacts with Turkish government officials would focus on the issue of accelerating the process in Cyprus.
Pointing out that there were still issues waiting for clarification, De Soto told reporters that the committees have been maintaining their work.
''In fact, the technical committees which were formed under negotiation process in the island, should have been formed long ago. Now, they have to work more,'' he said.
Responding a question about attitudes of the sides about Annan's plan, De Soto said that last minute efforts were in question.
''We may reach a solution in the last moment. Unfortunately, a solution could not be reached so far. The plan was presented to the sides. I hope that they would send their response soon,'' he said.
De Soto is scheduled to meet with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.