LEFKOSA - Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat said CTP had the highest possibility of forming the government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Talat said President Rauf Denktas had to designate CTP to form the government.
Talat made a statement following his meeting with Denktas and said they conveyed their demand that CTP should be designated to form the government as being the party having the highest capacity of forming the government.
Reiterating that they wanted to form the government with the target of sitting at negotiation table on the basis of Annan plan aiming to find a solution to Cyprus question till May 1, 2004 and to enter EU together with Southern Cyprus, Talat said they evaluated every kind of government types in line with this target.
Talat defended that it would be more difficult to defend the rights of Turkish Cypriots in case a solution could not be found till May 1, 2004 on the basis of Annan plan. Talat said May 1 was also an important day for Turkey, adding that finding a solution to Cyprus question could facilitate Turkey's EU process.
When asked what kind of a government model he thought, Talat said there were changes in views of National Unity Party (UBP) who earlier said they would not form government with CTP. Talat said there was not a clear government formula, but that the parties should agree on solution vision on the basis of Annan plan to find a formula.
Talat said Annan plan was the ''only way'' and that there was no other solution plan.
Stressing that inclusion of UBP in the government was not essential, Talat said there was other alternatives in the parliament.
Talat said he asked for an appointment from Turkey for a meeting, and that he would visit Ankara when a reply comes.
When Talat was reminded statement of Denktas that Annan plan would take 70 percent ''against'' votes in case it was resorted to referendum, he said parties supporting Annan plan got more than 50 percent of votes in elections.
When journalists recalled the statement of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul that political parties should not transfer parliamentarians, Talat said they did not consider transfer of parliamentarians as positive but claimed that parliamentarians in UBP and Democrat Party, calling for a solution, could leave their parties in case difference of views between Ankara and Denktas increase.
Reiterating that they were insistent on having position of negotiator, Talat said status of negotiator was a constitutional issue, and that all the authorities were in the government in constitution, and that government should carry out the negotiations. Talat said President could be an observer.
Talat said the government could not be formed in case any other party apart from CTP is designated to form the party.
(AY-AÖ) 23.12.2003