LEFKOSA - Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat who continued his efforts to form a government in TRNC, visited TRNC President Rauf Denktas on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Talat said that he gave information to Denktas about his meetings aiming to form the government and he tried to take suggestions of the President.
Talat stated that there was no debate for the moment as to who would be the negotiator, adding that in his view President and the government should carry out the negotiations.
Talat said he was the one who asked to meet with TRNC President Denktas, adding that it was natural for him as the prime minister candidate to meet with the President.
Upon a question, Talat said that ''in my opinion, the issue of negotiator has been ended. As you know we have always said during the election campaign that 'the government would be the negotiator rather than the President.' Our people has not given that authority to us. This is very clear. But certainly, there are the provisions of the Constitution. According to that, execution is composed of the President and the government. Therefore, the President and the government should carry out the talks, this is my view and policy.''
Talat said that they could not get any information from the Democrat Party (DP) yet regarding their proposal, and they hoped to get its response on Wednesday. Talat expressed his hope for formation of a government with DP. Noting that there was no government formula other than CTP, Talat said CTP wanted to form a coalition government among three parties, but if a proposal was going to be made to him for formation of a two-party government, CTP would also assess it.
Talat said that he didn't have any request from TRNC President Denktas for formation of the government.
''Does this meeting mean that you will work very closely with President from now on?'' asked journalists to Talat who said that ''if we form the government, is there any way other than working closely with the President?''
(Öª-AÖ) 06.01.2004