Gul: Northern Cyprus Should Not Think Of Early Election

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should not think of holding an early election at the moment.
Gul told reporters that Turkey encouraged sides in TRNC to form a broad-based coalition government under current conditions and said that it was what the sides in TRNC should do.
Asked if he thought a broad-based coalition was realistic, Gul said, ''of course, I think it is realistic. They will sit and reach a compromise in the end. People who are living in the same homeland, who have the same target, and who are trying to make their own people happy, will meet and reach a compromise in the end. They are not members of other societies.''
When asked if he would go to Cyprus soon, Gul said, ''I guess TRNC officials will come to Turkey before we go there.''
Gul noted that Turkey had not invited leaders of political parties in TRNC yet but they would hold a meeting with those leaders.
Asked if Turkey would invite those leaders after a government was formed in TRNC, Gul said, ''we hope a government will be formed this time. I guess that it may be formed in the following week. But, I can't say anything definite at the moment.''
GUL: THERE IS NOTHING TO BE EXPLAINED IN EXPLORATORY TALKS AT THE TIME BEING
Gul said that there was nothing to be explained in exploratory talks where problems of Aegean between Turkey and Greece were discussed.
When journalists reminded Gul news stories that progress was recorded in exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece, Gul said the talks were closed to the press, stressing that, ''those are meetings made in good will and without having any commitment to reach a solution.''
Replying a question about Turkey's Annan plan, Gul said, ''I am not yet in a position to say anything about this issue. We have not yet ended our studies. We will later reach an agreement among us. After this, we will reach a joint opinion with the political parties and the President. We will exert most sincere efforts for a solution in Cyprus before May 1.''
Stating that Cyprus was a national cause, Gul said, ''everybody should make serious analysis in a calm and determined way keeping themselves away from slogans.'' Gul said apart from this, there was no need for conflicts, tensions and unnecessary statements.
Gul said Annan plan could be ''taken as basis'', and noted that the important thing was to put it into a shape that can be accepted.
(AY-AÖ) 24.12.2003