BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- The problem of establishing a new government in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) continues. A workable formula has yet to be found. Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat is insisting that he should establish the government. However, Talat hasn’t suggested a method for doing so. The equal distribution of seats in Parliament between opposing sides is hindering this. Talat doesn’t approve of the method of deputies switching parties. He recently predicted that if the conflict between President Rauf Denktas and Turkey continues, there might be resignations from the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP). However, UBP leader Dervis Eroglu and DP leader Serdar Denktas deny this. Of course it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is a great difference between resigning and transferring.
President Denktas favors a broad-based government. He prefers a national coalition with the participation of four parties, or otherwise, the establishment of a large UBP-CTP coalition. Serdar Denktas said that he would certainly support the UBP and that he could participate in a UBP-CTP coalition or support it from outside. President Denktas also favors this plan. However, Talat is against that formula, saying, ‘The DP should participate in the UDP. They should become a single party with 25 deputies. Then Eroglu can become prime minister.’ Would the DP participate in the UDP? Although it seems unlikely now, this method could be taken into consideration if another solution proves elusive. Obviously the Cyprus summit to be held soon at Ankara’s Cankaya Presidential Palace will influence developments in the TRNC. Decisions taken at the summit might speed up efforts to establish a TRNC government. The way it’s formed will also influence who will restart negotiations with the United Nations and the Greek Cypriots. A large UBP-CTP coalition would relieve both the TRNC and Ankara.