Northern Cyprus Elections: External Interventions Have Great Influence On Results

REPUBLICAN TURKISH PARTY (CTP) TOOK THE LEAD WITH 35,18 PERCENT OF THE VOTES
LEFKOSA - All of 554 ballot boxes were opened in parliamentary elections held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday.
According to the unofficial but definite figures given by TRNC Higher Election Board, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) took the lead with 35,18 percent of the votes.
The votes the parties received and number of their parliamentarians are as follows:
Republican Turkish Party (CTP): 35,18 percent (19 deputies)
National Unity Party (UBP) : 32,93 (18 deputies)
Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH): 13,14 (6 deputies)
Democrat Party (DP): 12,79 (7 deputies)
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The parties that cannot pass the five percent threshold:
Nationalist Peace Party (MBP) : 3,23 percent
Solution and EU Party (CABP) : 1,97 percent
Cyprus Justice Party (KAP) : 0,60 percent

UBP CHAIRMAN EROGLU: IF PEOPLE SAY 'STAY IN OPPOSITION', WE WILL STAY IN 'OPPOSITION'
Dervis Eroglu, Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and leader of National Unity Party (UBP) said on Monday that external interventions had great influence on election results. ''We somewhat competed with the world,'' he added.
Eroglu told reporters that the result his party got in elections could not be described as failure. ''If people say 'stay in opposition', we will stay in 'opposition','' he added. Eroglu said TRNC President Rauf Denktas was not pleased with election results either.
Responding to a question if he met with Denktas after results were disclosed, he said, ''we talked by phone. We have evaluated the election results briefly. I cannot say he is pleased.''
Noting that external interventions were influential in election results and that's why, the results should not be considered a victory, Eroglu said the decrease from 40 percent to 32 percent in UBP's votes was not a big loss of votes.
When he was asked what would be their attitude, Eroglu said, ''if people say 'stay in opposition', we will stay in opposition. We are a party that always says it respects people's will.''
Responding to a question if results would lead to an early election, Eroglu said, ''making early election has its own rules. Recently, there are four parties that entered the parliament. The leaders of these parties are given the authority to form a government in turn. If they can't, early elections take place in 3 months. We will see in coming days if there is a need for this.''
DP LEADER SERDAR DENKTAS: ''PEOPLE SAY COME TOGETHER''
Serdar Denktas, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the leader of Democrat Party (DP) said on Monday that TRNC people told the political parties that succeeded in entering the parliament ''to come together and consult each other'' with the election results.
Denktas said in a statement that he earlier said the parties that would enter the parliament should come together at minimum common points in accordance with people's will that would be revealed in elections. The voter gave this message, he added.
Denktas said, ''lucky if we come together and secure a future that protects rights of this people. If not, decision also belongs to people. We will go to people.''
Serdar Denktas said they did not say ''we do not form a coalition with any parties'' before elections, adding that his party's assembly would examine possibilities of forming a government by evaluating the election results.
Noting that he did not see TRNC President Rauf Denktas yet, Serdar Denktas said early election is the biggest possibility with current results.
ERDOGAN: THE RESULT THAT WILL COME OUT WILL BE A RESULT THAT WILL BE RESPECTED BY US
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that the result that would come out from the parliamentary elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be a result that would be respected by them.
Responding a question on how he evaluated the results of TRNC elections and the row between ruling and opposition parties that occurred during the elections, Erdogan told reporters, ''current results show that only 60 percent of the votes have been counted. It is not correct to make an evaluation before definite results are taken in TRNC. But, as I said before, the result that will come out will be a result that will be respected by us. But occurrence of ugly incidents do not conform with democracy. It is not possible to accept this. And accepting the result that will come out is an expression of respect attributed by the sides to democracy.''
When a reporter recalled that the election results were almost on a par and asked its possible influence on Turkey's policy, Erdogan said, ''public polls were giving the signs of this. Our earnest desire is that Cyprus people accept the results without giving an opportunity for any rowdiness. May it conduce to goodness!''
EROGLU: ''IF NO PARTY CAN FORM A GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS MAY BE RENEWED IN THREE MONTHS''
Dervis Eroglu, Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said that the elections could be renewed in case none of the parties could form a government.
Eroglu told reporters in his party headquarters who would be given authority to form a government by TRNC President Rauf Denktas was important at this point and political parties should exchange views in this scope.
Recalling that Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) had a protocol between themselves not to make a coalition with ruling parties, Eroglu said that ''something could happen'' following the elections.
Underlining that the Constitution foresaw renewal of election in case none of the parties could form a government in three months, Eroglu said that's why, the election could be renewed in three months.
CTP CHAIRMAN: TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE SHOWED THAT THEY PREFERRED PEACE AND SOLUTION
Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said on Sunday that the current results of elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) proved that Turkish Cypriot people preferred peace and solution in the island.
In a press conference he held in his party headquarters, Talat said that Turkish Cypriot people showed that they preferred peace, solution of Cyprus issue and EU membership with the results of the election.
Talat said that they would make an evaluation in accordance with this demand of TRNC people and they would work to reach these goals in case they came to power, Talat said they would struggle to change the order that continued so far.
Talat said they would make necessary arrangements to make the government carry on Cyprus talks instead of TRNC President Rauf Denktas as they told before elections.
Responding to a question on cooperation with Turkey, Talat said they would expect support of Turkey as well in case they came to power because solution of Cyprus question was an inseparable part of Turkey's EU membership.
YSK CHAIRMAN ERGINEL: TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CASTING THEIR VOTES WITH A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF MATURITY AND DEMOCRACY
Turkish Cypriot people have been casting their votes to elect 50 new members of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in a calm atmosphere.
Higher Electoral Board (YSK) Chairman Taner Erginel said on Sunday that Turkish Cypriot people had been casting their votes with a great understanding of maturity and democracy.
Meanwhile, security officials told the A.A correspondent that any disturbing events had not occurred during the parliamentary elections.
The ballot boxes will be closed at 18.00 local time.
Tens of journalists from different countries including Greece and the Greek Cypriot side have been in TRNC for days to cover the elections.
(AÖ-UK) 14.12.2003