THE STATE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED ON TUESDAY THE OUTCOME OF U.N.-SPONSORED TALKS BETWEEN LEADERS OF CYPRUS AND OF THE RIVAL TURKISH CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT. IT EXPRESSED HOPE THE CONTACTS WILL LEAD TO COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS, AP REPORTED. «WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE START OF TALKS BY THE END OF THE MONTH, AS AGREED BY THE LEADERS, ON BOTH EVERYDAY AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES,» SPOKESMAN SEAN MCCORMACK SAID. U.N. UNDERSECRETARY GENERAL IBRAHIM GAMBARI ORGANIZED THE MEETING BETWEEN CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS AND TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER MEHMET ALI TALAT. MCCORMACK SAID THE UNITED STATES STANDS READY «TO ASSIST THE U.N. AND THE TWO SIDES IN THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND ENGAGED.» THE UNITED STATES HAS SUPPORTED STRONGLY THE REUNIFICATION PLAN OF U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, WHICH THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS ACCEPTED BUT THE GREEK CYPRIOTS REJECTED. MCCORMACK DID NOT REFER TO THAT PLAN IN HIS STATEMENT.
