LEFKOSA - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan made a general assesment about the Cyprus issue and the solution plan he put forward in his meeting with TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Greek Cypriot leaders Glafcos Clerides, Tassos Papadopoulos and their delegations.
Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides didn't put forward any views during the meeting. The Secretary General asked the sides to submit their responses about the plan in ten days. The sides will come together at 10.00 local time on Friday to continue their talks.
TRNC President Denktas told journalists after the meeting that ''we will come together on Friday morning again.''
Upon a question about the assessment of U.N. Secretary General, Denktas said that ''U.N. Secretary General says that this is a second amendment and they will reach nowhere if U.N. accepts all the things which the two sides says, and the sides should accept the compromise, and a referendum has to be held on March 30. They expect us to see if we accept the plan or not and give our decision within ten days.''
Upon another question, Denktas said that Annan didn't expect the sides to give their reply before he left the island and the sides would submit their replies afterwards. Denktas said upon the question of Papadopoulos, Annan told them that the sides should not expect a basic amendment in the plan.
Denktas stressed that changing of the plan's philosophy didn't seem to be possible, there was no surprise that could meet the expectations of the Turkish side, adding ''they say they give up Karpaz, but later they think of returning back all residents of Karpaz. This is all a game.''
When asked if there was the possibility of a referendum after March 7, Denktas said that all those issues would be discussed and assessed.
(ÖS-AÖ) 27.02.2003