LEKFOSA - TRNC President Rauf Denktas brought a new dimension to the solution of Cyprus problem with the proposals he presented to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos on Wednesday.
The six-article proposal package which the Turkish Cypriot side presented to the Greek Cypriot side prior to April 16 by when the accession agreement is expected to be signed between Greek Cypriot side and the EU, aims to restart the dialogue on Cyprus which broke off with the negotiations that were held in The Hague between 10-11 March and to overcome the deep crisis of trust between the two sides in Cyprus.
Experts said that ''if the proposals of Denktas are supported in the international field, a compromise can be reached.'' The fenced area of Maras was one of the most important advantage in Cyprus talks, said the sources, adding that the new proposals foresaw that Maras would be transferred to Greek Cypriots without an agreement. ''This is a great opening, this has to be evaluated well,'' they added.
Sources said that the attitude of the communist AKEL party which supported Papadopoulos in the elections would play an important role for the Greek Cypriot side's determining its attitude. Noting that the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side about the proposals would also show the policy it would pursue in the coming period, the sources pointed out that Papadopoulos would probably reject the proposals if there was no big influence from outside.
The Greek Cypriot side rejected the proposal of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that Turkey, Britain and Greece (as guarantor countries) TRNC and Greek Cypriot side should come together to solve the problem, while TRNC said it supported the idea of holding a conference among five countries.
The new proposal package which Denktas sent to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos today proposes transfer of fenced area of Maras to Greek Cypriots in return to abolishment of all kinds of restrictions.
(ÖS-AÖ) 02.04.2003