Brussels, 02/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - Indirect talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots opened on Monday in Geneva, under the auspices of the UN. Glafcos Clerides, (Greek) Cypriot President, and Ralf Denktash, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, each held a meeting with UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, who made a special trip to Geneva for this event. Prior to the opening of the talks (the second round after the meetings in New York from 3 to 14 December last), Mr Annan and his special representative for Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto, voiced cautious optimism, although Mr Denktash had announced before arriving in Geneva that specific results should not be expected. The Turkish Government in Ankara recalled that recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), self-proclaimed and recognised by Turkey alone, was an indispensable condition for a settlement.
Four items are on the agenda of the Geneva talks, which diplomats expect to last until 10 February, namely: security, sharing of powers, compensation and territory.
On a visit to Cyprus, the European Commission negotiator for Cypriot EU accession negotiations, Leopold Maurer, stated that CFSP High Representative Javier Solana, was "very closely" following the political developments and efforts to find a solution to the problem of the division of the island.