ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin has said that everyone should respect results of the parliamentary elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Together with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Health Minister Recep Akdag, and Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen, Sahin returned to Turkey late on Saturday after paying a visit to the quake-stricken Bam city of Iran.
Addressing journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport after his arrival, Sahin responded a question about the polemic between President Rauf Denktas of TRNC and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was designated to form the new government, ''the parliamentary elections were held in TRNC on December 14, 2003, and the Turkish Cypriot people made their preference.''
''Everyone should respect results of the elections and preference of the Turkish Cypriot people. President Denktas has a position that entails him to keep an equal distance to all political parties. I want to stress that President Denktas should not make such polemics with any of leaders of political parties. He is a well-experienced statesman,'' he said.
Sahin added that the Turkish government wanted a coalition government to be formed in TRNC as soon as possible.
(UK) 04.01.2004