Burgenstock, Mar 29 (CNA) – US President George Bush has asked Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to ''help in efforts for a Cyprus settlement''.According to Greek Government Spokesman Theodoros Rousopoulos, Bush made the appeal during a telephone conversation with Karamanlis who is attending the enlarged talks on Cyprus in Switzerland.
Rousopoulos said the conversation was held in a ''good climate'' and Karamanlis told Bush that the Greek side is in Burgenstock ''to assist'' but that the 48-hour deadline given to the parties to reply is very tight. However he stressed the Greek side's ''good will''.
Karamanlis met European Commissioner on Enlargement Gunter Verheugen with whom he examined compatibility issues regarding the acquis communautaire and EU principles.
Verheugen promised to examine issues that are not compatible with the acquis, as raised by Karamanlis.
Earlier, Karamanlis met UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to whom he pointed out the tight deadline given to the parties.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was reported to be examining the revised Annan Plan given today to the parties by Annan, with his advisers in the occupied areas and in coordination with the Turkish Cypriot delegation in Switzerland.
In another development, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Burgenstock where he will take part in the enlarged negotiations.|
CNA/CHN/OA/ITS/EC/RG/2004
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
29/03/2004
