Brussels, 28/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - I had a "very encouraging" meeting in Davos with Mr Erdogan on a solution for Cyprus, I am studying his proposal "very seriously" and am now going to meet the other parties, and when I have all the elements, I will decide whether it is time to relaunch negotiations, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the press on Wednesday, after a meeting with the European Commission in Brussels. I am prepared to offer my services if al parties show willingness and determination to find a way out, he added. There are "two parties, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, and two motherlands, Greece and Turkey". My plan includes an option for the parties to negotiate changes to my proposals, he noted, adding that if agreement is to be reached by 10 May, the best thing would be an agreement at the end of March, and simultaneous referendums in April. Romano Prodi said that the Commission was prepared to lend a hand technically and financially (including holding a donors' conference).
Mr Prodi indicated that his meeting with Mr Annan focused on reciprocal co-operation (working well, but "we could be more"), especially in Africa (particular concern was expressed about the situation in Côte d'Ivoire), UN reform, the situation in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East. For us, the UN is the "key global forum to co-ordinate the international response to current threats and challenges", he said.