The full text of the statement issued by the Press Office of the Turkish Presidency following the Cyprus Summit Meeting at the Cankaya Presidential Palace on 24 January 2004 under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, which was also attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Chief of Staff General Hilmi Ozkok, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul, the Secretary-General of the Presidency Kemal Nehrozoglu, the Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Ugur Ziyal, Deputy Undersecretary, Ambassador Baki Ilkin, the Second Chief of Staff, Full General Ilker Basbug, the Undersecretary of the Turkish Intelligence Service, Senkal Atasagun, the Chief Adviser to the Presidency for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sermet Atacanli and the Director General of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, is as follows:

"In today’s meeting, that was held under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, the latest developments on the Cyprus issue were evaluated. The Prime Minister, the Chief of Staff, the Foreign Minister and high-ranking civil and military bureaucrats attended the meeting. During the meeting it was reiterated that last month’s parliamentary elections in the TRNC was carried out in an environment of freedom and democracy and in an atmosphere of transparency and tranquillity.

Following the elections, the normal democratic period and efforts to form the new government are continuing in the TRNC. During the meeting it was agreed that following the formation of the new government it would be beneficial to take initiatives towards resuming the negotiation process.

As public opinion is well aware, it is the joint aim and desire of both Turkey and the TRNC to achieve a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. Turkey has confirmed her political determination to support the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General and to reach a settlement based on the realities on the island through a process of negotiations.