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23 January 2004

U.S. Welcomes Turkey's Support for UN Cyprus Plan

Jan. 23: State Department Deputy Spokesman J. Adam Ereli

"The United States welcomes Turkey's support for the resumption of the UN Secretary General's Good Offices Mission" regarding Cyprus, said State Department Deputy Spokesman J. Adam Ereli January 23.

"We believe that all parties should meet the Secretary General's requirements as soon as possible and recommence negotiations on the basis of the Annan plan by agreeing to finalize the plan and put it to referenda by a date certain," Ereli continued. "We continue to encourage all parties to take these steps."

Ereli spoke in response to a question during the briefing.

Following is an excerpt from the January 23 State Department Daily Press Briefing:

(begin excerpt)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2004

[...]

QUESTION: On Cyprus, in Turkey, after a four-hour meeting of the National Security Council, Turkey backs the resumption of talks in Cyprus on the basis of Annan plan. But as we all know, both sides have different, but serious reservations or objections.

My question is: What would the U.S. would help, or is willing to help to bring in some flexibility, such as, you know -- as you know, the Secretary General requests for a commitment for a date for the referendum and both sides don't like the idea of committing themselves for a day.

MR. ERELI: Let me first say that the United States welcomes Turkey's support for the resumption of the UN Secretary General's Good Offices Mission. We believe that all parties should meet the Secretary General's requirements as soon as possible and recommence negotiations on the basis of the Annan plan by agreeing to finalize the plan and put it to referenda by a date certain.

We continue to encourage all parties to take these steps. And in that respect, I would note that Ambassador Weston, at the request of the Turkish Government, traveled to Ankara and will continue his discussions on the way forward to a Cyprus settlement.

QUESTION: When?

MR. ERELI: I don't know the exact date.

QUESTION: I'm sorry. From here to Ankara?

MR. ERELI: Yep.

QUESTION: Oh, that's interesting. You don't -- there is no way of getting an answer to the question.

MR. ERELI: Okay.

QUESTION: No, I mean it's not your fault. I'm saying, can't Turkey deliver the Turkish Cypriots? Is there any question about that?

MR. ERELI: I think that --

QUESTION: I mean, when Turkey speaks, doesn't it mean something?

MR. ERELI: -- what we believe, we believe that it's in -- you know, that this statement by Turkey is a welcome one, an important one, and we believe that it's in all the parties to sign up to the Annan plan and begin written negotiations as soon as possible.

QUESTION: Speaking of Turkey, do you know next week, when the Prime Minister is here, if the Secretary has got a separate meeting with him, or is it all at the White House?

MR. ERELI: I don't know. I can check. I can check.

[...]

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)