LEFKOSA - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that Turkish Cypriot people came out stronger from the elections that were held in TRNC on Sunday, adding that almost all people were favouring compromise and that they showed that they wanted to join the European Union (EU).
Speaking in the news conference he held to assess the elections in TRNC, TRNC President Denktas said that half of the people wanted to join the EU with Annan plan and the remaining half wanted to join it not by violating the international agreements, but by protecting the rights of Turkey and in equal terms with Greek Cypriots.
A wrong message was given to the world saying that ``Denktas does not want compromise, Denktas is against EU and he misleads the people,`` said Denktas, adding that almost all people favoured compromise and EU membership, but they had different opinions in method.
Denktas said that the parliament was locked up and that he would separately meet with party leaders and ask if they reached the number to form the government, adding ``my mission is to give the task to the party which says that they can form the government if they convince us. According to the constitution, if the government is not formed within two months, there is the obligation to apply to the parliament. Our people have come out stronger from this election. They showed that they claimed ownership over the state, that all organs of the state function well, and they showed the existence of democracy. All the shameful attacks made before the elections, the attacks of the foreigners saying that `elections would not be fair and thousands of people were brought from Turkey for the elections` came out to be lies and propaganda, and this is a matter of honour for us.``
When asked if he would firstly ask the Republican People`s Party (CTP) to set up the government, Denktas said that ``it maybe, but the correct thing is to talk with the political party which is in power. It can be this or that party, we don`t have any obligation here.``
Upon a question, TRNC President Denktas said that what he wanted was to see parties coming together in line with the message the people gave, discussing the problems of the national cause, coming to a conclusion and their forming a national government.``
DENKTAS: THE BEST THING IS THAT PARTIES SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND FORM A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Denktas said, ``Turkish-Greek balance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region should be preserved to find a solution to the Cyprus question. We are in favor of quartet talks among Turkey, Greece, the Greek Cypriot side and TRNC. The two states in the island could reach an agreement for a confederation since the confederation system is better than federation. This system can enable us to form a closed partnership in the course of the time.``
Calling out to the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and countries such as Britain and the United States, President Denktas said, ``they have made a serious mistake by taking side with the Greek Cypriot side. Now, they should give up their mistake and act impartially.``
Referring to embargoes imposed on TRNC for years, President Denktas said, ``these embargoes should be lifted as soon as possible. Turkish Cypriot people have not committed any crimes to deserve such a punishment.``
Upon a question about results of the elections, President Denktas told reporters, ``political parties will take the decision. Actually, the best thing is that political parties should come together and form a national government. In that case, they will appear in front of the whole world as a single body. It is easy to say, but difficult to do since all political parties have their own point of views.``
DENKTAS: ``WE MUST FORM A GOVERNMENT``
In his news conference when asked if the result of the elections was a surprise for him or not, Denktas said that the public surveys showed just the opposite of the election results. Denktas stated that in public surveys National Unity Party (UBP) had 37-38 percent and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) had around 32-33 percent of the votes, adding that the surveys were carried out well, but the votes changed in the last 24 hours.
When asked if there would be transfers between the parties according to the Constitution, Denktas said that ``this is not against the Constitution, but against ethics.``
Responding to a question asking if he would firstly meet with coalition parties, Denktas said ``no, I have not decided yet, but this is the correct thing. Firstly, we should call the party in power, we can later ask for the other party.``
Upon a question about the issue, Denktas said that ``I am talking about meeting, not about designating the political party. I will meet with all parties. For instance, if I invite somebody today, and if he does not have time, I will invite the other one. The order of my meetings with political parties does not have importance.``
When reminded about the statement of CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat who said that he would dismiss Denktas from the post of chief negotiator, Denktas said ``I think Mr. Talat is a bit sad, he knows that he does not have that power. But there is no meaning in talking about these issues now. I will talk to him, the things he said are left behind. Now it is time to set up a government.``
Upon a question about coming of the two sides on the island together, Denktas reminded the words of Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos who said that a solution was impossible as long as Denktas was in power, adding that ``but I will be around for 1-2 years.``
When asked if he had any contact with Ankara after the announcement of the election results, Denktas said that ``as you know Ankara is busy with the demise of Mr. Haydar Aliyev.``
Denktas noted that he gave an appointment to U.S. Department of State Special Coordinator to Cyprus Thomas Weston who was on a regional tour, for December 18, adding that ``I didn`t see him before the elections because he was expecting that one party would come to power by getting rid of other parties. I wanted to meet him after the elections by knowing the conditions we would have after the elections.``
IF ELECTIONS WERE REFERENDUM FOR ANNAN PLAN, IT WOULD BE REJECTED WITH 51.2 PERCENT
TRNC Presidential Office stated in a written statement on Monday that ``if the elections were referendum for Annan Plan, it would be rejected with 51.2 percent.``
The Office stated that this result came out as a result of the evaluation made by a study group in Dogu Akdeniz (East Mediterranean) University.
According to the calculations made by this study group, the votes of four political parties who didn`t support Annan party, were 51.2 percent and the votes of those parties favouring Annan plan were 48.8 percent, the Office noted.
CTP LEADER TALAT:``TASK OF FOUNDING GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO US``
Republican Turkish Party-United Powers (CTP-BG) convened on Monday to evaluate the results of the elections in TRNC.
Speaking before the meeting, Talat said that TRNC President Rauf Denktas had to the give the mission of founding the government to their party, as the party which gained the highest number of votes in the elections.
The result of the elections were an important success for their party, but the number of the opposition and coalition parties both gained 25 seats in the parliament, Talat said.
Talat said that Turkish Cypriot people clearly and openly showed that they were in favour of solution and EU membership, but equality came out due to the election system.
``Turkish Cypriot people want solution. CTP-BG also wants solution of the problem. We have the target of May, 2004. We will carry out all sorts of efforts to provide the solution, but we will certainly assess the situation with our authorized institutions,`` Talat said.
Talat noted that the results of the elections would seriously affect the future of Cyprus, asserting that ``because for the first time Turkish Cypriot people clearly put forward its will. In fact a 40-year regime and status-quo collapsed. In my opinion this is a very serious change and it will have serious effects on the future of Cyprus problem.``
WE WILL SUBMIT RESIGNATION OF GOVERNMENT TO TRNC PRESIDENT TOMORROW
Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democrat Party (DP), TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said on Monday that they would submit the resignation of the government to TRNC President Denktas on Tuesday.
Speaking in the news conference he held in DP headquarters, Serdar Denktas said that the government would stay in power until the new government would be founded. Following the oath-taking ceremony in the parliament, the designation would be made regarding the foundation of the government.
Serdar Denktas said that political parties should make an evaluation among themselves, adding that people gave very clear messages by the election results. The people wanted solution of Cyprus issue and EU, they didn`t accept the plan in its existing form and that they claimed ownership over their sovereignty, he said.
Denktas recalled that they didn`t say before the elections that they would not form coalition with any political party.
Upon a question, Denktas said that the strongest probability under today`s conditions was early elections.
MFA: ``WE ARE IN A PROCESS IN WHICH WE SHOULD EXPEND MORE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE OUR UNITY AND SOLIDARITY``
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said, ``we are in a process in which we should expend more efforts to preserve our unity and solidarity. We expect formation of a new government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the constitutional process.``
Releasing a statement on Monday, the MFA welcomed holding parliamentary elections in TRNC in a transparent and peaceful atmosphere.
``Results of the elections reflect the free will of Turkish Cypriot people. Therefore, we congratulate Turkish Cypriot people and all political parties,`` it said.
The MFA noted, ``the basic power of Turkish Cypriot people stems from its success in maintaining unity and solidarity within the rules of pluralist democracy. International community has also showed great interest in the elections. The elections has proved once again sound settlement of democratic institutional structures and the legal system in TRNC.``
``Now, we expect formation of the new government in the constitutional process. We are in a process in which we should expend more efforts to preserve our unity and solidarity in the Cyprus question. Both Turkey and TRNC want and target finding a solution to the Cyprus question. Therefore, President Rauf Denktas` holding consultations with government officials and political parties is quite natural,`` the statement added.
(Öª-UK-AÖ) 15.12.2003