LEFKOSA - National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that President Rauf Denktas would designate Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat to form the new government.
Addressing journalists following his meeting with President Denktas, Eroglu said, ''President Denktas met with leaders of political parties for the last time before designating one of them to form the new government. During the meeting, he told me that he would act in line with democratic practices. President Denktas stated clearly that he would designate CTP leader Talat to form the new government. Let's hope for the best.''
Reminding that the parliamentary elections were held in TRNC in a democratic atmosphere, Eroglu said that Turkish Cypriot people had given a good example of democracy to the whole world.
Upon a question, Eroglu said that they did not plan to join a coalition government to be formed by all four political parties having seats at the TRNC parliament.
Noting that the UBP had been serving TRNC for years, Eroglu added, ''there is a new era ahead of us. The UBP will try to fulfill its responsibilities in this new era by preserving its loyalty to democratic rules.''
(UK-AÖ) 29.12.2003