Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-12-04

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Danish Presidency and Prodi hope for Cyprus settlement before Copenhagen

[02] President will say when he hands letter to Annan

[03] Kasoulides says Denktash not to reply to Annan today

[04] Denktash returns to hotel, Eckhard says UN has received no submissions yet

[01] Danish Presidency and Prodi hope for Cyprus settlement before Copenhagen

[02] President will say when he hands letter to Annan

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President will say when he hands letter to Annan

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) - President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides has said that the media would be informed as soon as he hands his reply to a letter sent by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan last week requesting the points the Greek Cypriot side wished changed in a Cyprus solution plan submitted by the UN chief on November 11.

''When we give it we will tell you'', the President told reporters tonight, after a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides.

[03] Kasoulides says Denktash not to reply to Annan today

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Kasoulides says Denktash not to reply to Annan today

Nicosia, Dec 4 (CNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides said tonight that, according to Ministry sources, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash would not be handing his reply today to a letter sent by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan last week requesting the points he wished changed in a Cyprus solution plan submitted by the UN chief on November 11.

Speaking after a meeting with President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, the Minister said the Greek Cypriot side's response was ready and would be given simultaneously with the Turkish Cypriot side's reply.

Asked if the health of Denktash would delay the handing of the Turkish Cypriot side's reply, Kasoulides said he did not know and that it was up to that side to decide.

''We have said that it would be right for negotiating purposes'' that both replies be given ''simultaneously'', the Minister added.

He said that ''sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs'' indicate that ''Denktash's proposals will not be given today''.

[04] Denktash returns to hotel, Eckhard says UN has received no submissions yet

At the same time Kofi Annans Spokesman, Fred Eckhard said the UN has still not received any submissions by the two sides but stressed the deadline of the 12th of December was fixed and although there is still time, much will depend on the extensiveness or lack of extensiveness of the comments of each side on the draft proposal.

Returning to his hotel after medical exams at the Presbyterian hospital in New York, Denktash said he felt fine.

Speaking to Turkish journalists, he said he was still studying his reply to the UN Secretary-General, which will be given to the latter simultaneously with the Greek Cypriot side.

We will do whatever we have to do to defend our rights, he said. According to the Turkish journalists, the reply will be given tomorrow.

Asked when he will return to the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus, Denktash said he wanted to return on Friday, despite the fact that fluid is still building up in his lungs.

Meanwhile, UN Spokesman Fred Eckhard said the UN has still not received any submissions by the two sides.

Eckhard told reporters as of noon, we had not received any submissions and I can't predict how long it would take to reconcile the two positions until we see what the substantive comments on the Secretary General's proposal are from each side.

He said the deadline is fixed, the 12th of December, and we still have a few days and as the Secretary General said yesterday there is still time but much will depend on the extensiveness or lack of extensiveness of the comments of each side on the draft proposal.

Invited to comment on statements made by Denktash that he disagreed with Kofi Annan's statement that his dream is to see Cyprus as one state in the EU, Eckhard said that when Denktash submits his comments in writing we will deal with those as we will with those submitted by the Greek-Cypriots. He said he did not want to respond to public statements made by either side as there is a process underway at the UN and we are waiting for the responses.

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