LEFKOSA - Dervis Eroglu, the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister, said on Wednesday that they were ready for an early election.
Early election formula came out of the meeting between UBP leader Eroglu and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat which was held as a part of efforts to form the government after December 14 general election in TRNC.
In their meeting, the leaders noted that early election was indispensable if a government was not formed.
The leaders stated that their parties were ready for an early election.
UBP leader Eroglu did not mention any date for early election while CTP leader Talat said that early election should be held in mid-January.
Following their meeting, Eroglu told reporters that searches for a government were under way in TRNC.
Eroglu said that they would fulfil their duties to form a government of compromise and reiterated that he and his party wanted to form the government.
Noting that UBP and CTP had different views, Eroglu said that any compromise could not be reached in their meeting.
Eroglu stated that after TRNC President Rauf Denktas designated one person to form the government, two parties would meet and make an evaluation.
Recalling that Democrat Party (DP) leader and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas extended open support to UBP, Eroglu said that they would continue their determination to take joint action with DP.
Eroglu said that advantages and disadvantages of early election could be discussed and pointed out that it was impossible for him to mention any date for early election.
When he was recalled about his Tuesday's statement about Annan plan that ''Annan plan was on the table even if they say 'it didn't exist'.'' and asked about the reason of ''this change in his stance'', Eroglu underlined that ''they did not change their stance'' and UBP was in favor of discussing everything.
''Negotiating Annan plan was not accepting everything as it is,'' Eroglu emphasized.
Eroglu said that they had reservations about issues in Annan plan like bi-zonal structure, territory, sovereignty, security, and efficient and de facto guarantee of Turkey.
They were against being invited to negotiation table saying ''either reject or accept'' the plan, Eroglu noted.
Eroglu stated that every issue should be discussed.
Noting that May 1 was a date before them, Eroglu said that however, May 1 was not the end of the world.
Eroglu said that a solution till May 1, 2004 depended on stance of not only Turkish side but also Greek Cypriot side.
However, Eroglu noted, they had not seen the same stance in the Greek Cypriot side.
Eroglu stated that they were in an effort to protect rights and interests of Turkish Cypriot people.
An agreement could not be reached by ignoring the realities in Cyprus, Eroglu stressed.
Asked what his attitude would be towards formation of UBP-CTP government under leadership of another person instead of himself and Talat, Eroglu said that they did not talk about this possibility.
Eroglu said that they had not received any invitation from Ankara yet, adding that Ankara continued its preparations.
TALAT: IF THERE WILL BE EARLY ELECTION, IT SHOULD BE HELD IN MID-JANUARY
Talat told reporters that they should make good use of the time till May 1, 2004 and stated that those who wasted time of Turkish Cypriot people till May 1 could not go out in public.
Stating that CTP was the most powerful political party which would form the government in this current situation, Talat said that they were ready for election and noted that if election was held again, they would get more votes.
When reporters reminded him of ''Georgian model,'' Talat said that he did not imply any model when he said that ''those who wasted time could not go out in public.''
Talat said that Eroglu took the support of Democrat Party (DP) and he held a meeting with them on behalf of 25 deputies, adding that DP should join UBP to put this into practice. Noting that DP could join UBP in the following days, Talat claimed that this was a game of TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
When he was reminded of Eroglu's statement saying that ''Annan plan can be negotiated,'' Talat said that it was a positive development, but not sufficient. Stating that Annan plan was a comprehensive solution plan, he said that Secretary General's date of referendum should also be accepted. Upon a question, Talat said that it would also be beneficial to receive view of CTP before Ankara's preliminary studies on Cyprus took the final shape and reiterated that they waited for an invitation to go to Ankara.
(EÖ-AÖ) 24.12.2003