Leaders Met Yesterday, Downer Said That U.N. Shall Not Prepare A Plan
Speaking to reporters upon his return to the Presidential Palace, President Mehmet Ali Talat said that they had temporarily concluded discussions on the economy chapter for the exception of a few small details on which they try to reach convergence on when they meet next week. Talat said that next Thursday’s meeting will start earlier at 9 am and will begin with discussions on the economy chapter as well as the Yesilirmak crossing point before moving on to the next topic of territory.
Responding to a question as to whether the UN was preparing a settlement plan, Talat said there was no such attempt and that the final solution plan would be prepared by the two leaders. He said that the only thing the Turkish Cypriot Side wanted from the UN was for it to take on a more active role in the process.
Separately, the UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer told that he was not working on a settlement blueprint for Cyprus as reported in the Greek Cypriot media. “The role of the United Nations is to do what it can to help the two sides. But the United Nations isn’t in the game of writing blueprints. It is for the leaders to negotiate ultimately a comprehensive settlement, not for the United Nations to write blueprints. We have said that right from the beginning and that continues to be the case” Downer said.
TALAT: “DISCUSSIONS ON TERRITORY WILL BE RESTRICTED TO DETERMINING BASIC PRINCIPLES”
President Mehmet Ali Talat said that discussions on the issue of territory will be restricted to determining the basic principles and would not go any further than that at this stage in the talks.
Talat: “There is no exercise related to the map or territorial arrangements. We shall deal with this when the time comes for a solution.”
EROGLU: “WE ARE TRYING TO BRING THE ECONOMY OUT OF DEADLOCK”
The Council of Ministers met with an agenda mainly on the economic issues. Prime Minister Eroglu said that they were trying to bring the economy out of deadlock.
