LEFKOSA - Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was designated by President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to form the new government, said on Tuesday that they did not close their doors to any formula to form the government, adding that they aimed to form a government which had the support of majority of Parliament.
Talat said after his meeting with Democracy Movement (BDH) leader Mustafa Akinci that they were open to government formulas which aim solution until May 2004 on the basis of Annan Plan. He added that thus, his meeting with National Unity Party (UBP) today would be important.
Noting that they were determined to carry on cooperation with BDH, Talat said that he did not present a government formula to BDH, adding that they made evaluations.
Upon a question, Talat said that he did not have a contact with Ankara after he was designated to form the government, adding that they would hold a meeting soon and they needed this.
Talat said that Democrat Party (DP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas' meetings with Greek Cypriot politicians in Greek Cypriot side was a positive development. He added that at least Denktas understood that holding meetings with Greek Cypriots was an important element in solving Cyprus issue.
Noting that every party could be uneasy about other parties' policies, Talat said that if a government would be formed, some things should be digested and there would be no problem in case parties acted within the scope of government program. He added that they had established a coalition with DP in the past, but the government dissolved when they did not reach an understanding.
When recalled that DP-CTP coalition government was also discussed, Talat said that they were open to government formations.
Talat said that a government which settled the majority of parliament to a large base could survive only with the targets of solution and the European Union (EU) so that they did not want an offended majority. He added that they needed a serious majority in Parliament and this majority should support the government because the government would overcome very serious changes and turning points together with Turkish Cypriot people, thus the government should be sound which depended on a large base.
BDH leader Akinci said that they had a good evaluation, adding that the important thing was the future of Cyprus, happiness of Turkish Cypriot people and to find a solution which would be accepted by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots mutually on the basis of Annan Plan and to make a united Cyprus enter to EU.
Noting that they acted with the faith that common future of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots was in the EU, Akinci said that evaluations with CTP would continue and they would meet again when conditions to form a government would be cleared.
Akinci said that they were not following a policy against Turkey.
TALAT: UBP WILL ASSESS A GOVERNMENT FORMULA UNDER MY LEADERSHIP
Talat and UBP leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu held a meeting on Tuesday which lasted for one and a half hour. Leaders made statements following the meeting.
Talat said that UBP and they exchanged views on formation of the government in the meeting and stated that they started to focus on concrete government options.
Stating that they wanted to learn how UBP considered a government under the leadership of CTP and UBP's views on solution and negotiation on the basis of Annan plan, Talat said that UBP would make a statement after it discussed the issue with the party members.
Talat said that no conclusion came out from their meeting with UBP yet and stated that they would come together with UBP later. Talat said that they aimed to form a broad-based government in the parliament and stated that they would have a meeting with officials of Democrat Party (DP) on Wednesday.
Upon a question on plan on Cyprus issue which was prepared by Turkey, Talat said that it was a belated study and added that it was seen that Ankara's plan did not separate from the groundwork of Annan's plan.
UBP LEADER EROGLU SAYS CTP PROPOSES HIS PARTY BE A MEMBER OF COALITION
Eroglu told reporters that he would give a response to Talat after evaluating the issue with general administration and assembly of his party.
Eroglu said that Talat tried to learn views of UBP about formation of a two-party government under his prime ministry, a possible solution on the basis of Annan plan and without changing the core of the plan and the status of negotiator.
His party had taken decisions about those issues in the past, Eroglu noted.
Eroglu stated that nobody could give a response to proposals in one day.
''There are decisions taken by the authorized organs. Can these decisions change according to conditions of the day? Because, when I asked if 'there was an idea to make any change in Annan plan', they expressed view that 'it was impossible to change its core and philosophy.' Of course, all these issues will be evaluated in the authorized organs of our party. We have called on our party assembly to a meeting on Friday,'' Eroglu said.
Eroglu noted that his party would evaluate the situation with its government partner Democrat Party (DP).
After the meeting of CTP assembly, his party would meet with CTP again, Eroglu stated.
Eroglu said that his party did give neither positive nor negative response to Talat, who asked if CTP would be a member of coalition government and if a two-party government could be formed in accordance with the decisions of the assembly of their party.
He wanted party organs to deal with those issues, Eroglu noted.
Eroglu added, ''in our meeting, we didn't discuss whether we can form a common government. We received their proposals. We asked some questions to CTP and we listened to their answers. We will take up this issue in the meeting of our party.''
(BRC-AÖ) 30.12.2003