Cyprus Issue To Be Evaluated In A Meeting At Cankaya

ANKARA - Cyprus issue will be evaluated in a meeting to be held under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Thursday.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will also attend the meeting to be held at Cankaya Presidential Palace.
BAYKAL CONVEYS HIS VIEWS ABOUT CYPRUS
Sezer received on Wednesday opposing Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal.
Responding questions of journalists following the 50-minute meeting, Baykal reminded that a meeting would be held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace on the issue of Cyprus.
''Prior to the meeting, President Sezer wanted to listen to our views. During the meeting, I explained our views about the Cyprus question,'' he said.
Noting that the Cyprus question was in a critical stage, Baykal told reporters, ''as you know, efforts to form the new government of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have not finalized yet. There is an international public opinion requesting the sides in Cyprus to take a decision till May 1, 2004. In such an atmosphere, Turkey needs to show the whole world that it has been assisting efforts of finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus question with a good will. However, Turkey should be careful against wrongful solution proposals that are totally unacceptable. Our views are clear. I explained these views to President Sezer. Such a decision should be taken with the contribution of all sections of the public opinion. Turkey has developed its Cyprus policies with the contribution of the National Security Council (NSC) so far. Now, assessments of the NSC are needed. I hope that tomorrow's meeting at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, the NSC's assessment, and formation of the new government in TRNC will help us to develop a new policy on the Cyprus question.''
EFFORTS UNDER WAY IN TRNC TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT
LEFKOSA - Democrat Party (DP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said that they would not give a response to the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) about formation of the new government on Wednesday.
After CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was designated by President Rauf Denktas to form the new government, stated that they could not form a coalition government with the National Unity Party (UBP), the CTP has started a dialogue process with the DP.
CTP leader Talat and DP leader Denktas held a telephone conversation earlier in the day.
Authorized organs of the two political parties have been assessing the prospect of a coalition government between the CTP and the DP.
The two political parties are not expected to come to a conclusion about formation of the new government today.
CTP LEADER TALAT TO VISIT DP ON THURSDAY
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat who was designated to form a government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will visit Democrat Party (DP) on Thursday morning.
Talat will meet with DP leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas. Talat and Denktas will make a statement after their meeting.
Replying to questions, Talat said that necessary statement would be made at DP headquarters.
Upon a question, Talat said that he could come to Turkey to attend a program on a tv channel and stated that Serdar Denktas was also invited to this tv program. He added that Denktas and he could come to Ankara together.
Stating that his possible visit to Ankara did not have any connection with Cyprus summit which would be held in Ankara on Thursday, Talat said that determination on solution to Cyprus issue and Turkey's contribution to it would come out from the summit.
''There is no other option than forming a government,'' he said and stated that they targeted to solve the issue by May 2004.
Talat said, ''we will form the government to reach this target. Turkey is making preparation. Turkey's preliminary studies are toward the United Nations and also the United States. But, when those preparations are being carried on in Turkey, it is inappropriate if we cannot have a government in TRNC.''
(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 07.01.2004