GAMBARI SENT A LETTER TO BOTH SIDES
TALAT RESPONDS POSITIVELY TO GAMBARI’S PROPOSALS

The United Nations Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari’s letter, which consisted of thoughts and proposals for the implementation of 8^th July Agreement received by the two sides in the island on 16 November. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has responded positively to the letter sent by the two leaders in Cyprus on Thursday.

Gambari in his letter, requested from both sides to resume the comprehensive negotiations on the Cyprus issue in the first quarter (March) of 2007.

The letter, which in general envisaged the implementation of the 8^th July Agreement and reaching a comprehensive settlement in the Cyprus issue, was evaluated in a meeting held at the Presidency on 17 November, where the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı was also present.

President Mehmet Ali sent a letter to the UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari on Friday (17 November) to inform him that the Turkish Cypriot side welcomed the proposals included in his letter.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot side was still committed to the objective of finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem within the Good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary General, the President underlined the need for an urgent solution to the problem.

The President said that it was pleasing that Gambari proposed the resumption of the comprehensive negotiations in the first quarter of next year.

In a statement on the issue, the Presidential Spokesman Hasan Erçakıca said: “President Mehmet Ali Talat in his letter, also expressed our concern about the ambiguities in Gambari’s letter. The President also expressed concern that these ambiguities could be used by the Greek Cypriot side to delay attempts towards moving forward the 8^th July Agreement and the resumption of the comprehensive negotiations on the Cyprus issue”.

Erçakıca pointed out that the President made it clear that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to contribute positively and constructively to the process with the hope that a lasting solution will soon be found to the Cyprus problem.

PRESIDENT TALAT TO MEET ANNAN IN GENEVA

President Mehmet Ali Talat went to Geneva yesterday in order to meet with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The meeting took place at the UN’s Central Office in Geneva ‘Palais des Nations’, at 11.30 am today (20 November).

President Mehmet Ali Talat was welcomed at Geneva Airport by Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN’s Central Office in Geneva, Ambassador Türkekul Kurttekin.