ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Wednesday that he did not meet with representatives of the opposition and political parties in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during his visit to this country.
Sener, who returned from TRNC, told reporters that he was pleased with his meetings in TRNC and he met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and other officials.
Projects under practice in cooperation between two countries were taken up in his meetings, Sener said.
Sener noted that he once more saw the importance of cooperation between Turkey and TRNC during his meetings.
The Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol signed in April 2002 foresaw projects which would increase level of income of Turkish Cypriot people, Sener pointed out.
Sener said that those projects would be implemented in 2004 and they would continue their cooperation with TRNC government in coming years.
''We reviewed economic performance of TRNC during my visit. We have seen that there were significant economic developments in cooperation with Turkey in the last one year,'' Sener added.
When asked if his visit had a connection with the general election to be held in TRNC on Sunday, Sener said, ''there will be an election in TRNC. It is true. There were people who connected my visit to TRNC with the elections. But, these evaluations are not right. Because, I don't think it is right to delay anything I want to do just because there is an election. My visit should be evaluated this way. Turkish Cypriots have a democratic culture. Every election shows how TRNC is institutionalized and indicates that TRNC is based on strong grounds. Every election shows level of democracy in TRNC. Elections to be held in TRNC will be transparent and sign of democracy. All the world will see it.''
When a reporter recalled that ''there were comments and statements that incidents which had occurred in Georgia could occur in TRNC after the elections,'' Sener said, ''I consider these comments and statements very wrong. And, what amazes me is that these are words including news and comments of a former foreign minister. It is a comparison which should never be pronounced and thought of. It is very wrong. I can't understand how such a comment can be made. But, I see that every country has a point of view peculiar to itself. It is possible for everybody who goes to TRNC to see how 200 thousand Turkish Cypriots living in TRNC has adopted democracy.''
Replying to another question, Sener said that he did not meet with representatives of opposition and political parties in TRNC and added that his interlocutors were the members of the government.
(BRC-AÖ) 10.12.2003