Erdogan Suggests TRNC Party Leaders Start Cyprus Talks As Soon As Possible

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested on Thursday leaders of political parties in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) start Cyprus talks as soon as possible.
Sources said that Erdogan also suggested the leaders form the government as soon as possible while the leaders informed Erdogan about efforts to form the government and expressed their views about solution of Cyprus issue.
The sources noted that Ankara did not give information in detail to party leaders about its preparations for solution of Cyprus issue.
The sources said that Cyprus talks were foreseen to be continued on basis of Annan plan.
Erdogan stressed the view that ``Turkish side should not be the side which left the negotiation table.``
The only leader who proposed Erdogan that TRNC President Rauf Denktas should no more be the negotiator in Cyprus talks was Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) leader Mustafa Akinci, the sources stated.
The sources said that Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who shared similar views with BDH leader, was more moderate than Akinci.
Akinci did not receive any positive response from Erdogan, whom he proposed that Denktas should no more be the negotiator, the sources noted.
Meanwhile, CTP leader Talat told reporters that he had to form the government till Monday, the deadline given to him to form the government.
Otherwise, Talat said, a government in TRNC would not be formed till Prime Minister Erdogan`s visit to the United States to be paid at the end of January.
Talat claimed that such a development would be negative.
CTP leader alleged that the reason of referring to good will mission of United Nations Secretary General instead of Annan plan in the final statement released after Cyprus summit was ``not to make Denktas angry.``
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH LEADERS OF FOUR POLITICAL PARTIES OF TRNC
Erdogan met with leaders of four political parties of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Ahmet Davutoglu and Ender Arat, advisers of Erdogan, also attended the meeting.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, Democrat Party (DP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas and Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) leader Mustafa Akinci had come to Ankara today.
TALAT: ERDOGAN ASKED US TO FORM THE NEW GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat has said, ``Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked us to form a multilateral and broad-based government as soon as possible.``
Responding questions of journalists following the meetings between Prime Minister Erdogan and leaders of four political parties of TRNC, Talat said that they had informed Prime Minister Erdogan on their efforts to form the new government.
``Prime Minister Erdogan asked us to form a multilateral and broad-based government as soon as possible in order make a more detailed assessment and to make a request for resumption of talks on behalf of Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan reiterated that formation of the new government in TRNC was a sine qua non condition for Turkey,`` he added.
BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT
Talat said that Prime Minister Erdogan suggested leaders of political parties in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) form a broad-based government.
Talat said that they had expressed their views about the ways to harmonize Turkish Cypriot side with those preparations, evaluated their views within that framework, and voiced their views about efforts to reach a compromise on the text to be prepared by Turkish side.
Recalling that he was designated to form the government in TRNC, Talat said that they had evaluated initiatives exerted so far and informed Turkish officials about their efforts.
Talat went on saying, ``as you know, Turkey wanted a broad-based government to be formed in TRNC. Officials reiterated this wish in our meetings. We held a press conference in TRNC before coming to Ankara and we have expressed our agreement with Democrat Party. We have formed a common committee. These committees will discuss coalition possibilities and we will see whether or not we can form a government in the end of these discussions.``
``We informed Turkish officials about our efforts. What was important for me was to express our views about reaching a compromise in Turkish side in order to exert efforts to solve Cyprus issue till May 2004 as foreseen in Annan plan. And, we did so,`` Talat said.
Talat stated that Erdogan suggested them form a broad-based government and said, ``he once more suggested that if possible, a four-party government, that is, a broad-based government should be formed in TRNC.``
Noting that their own procedures were operating, Talat said that they were reaching somewhere within the scope of those procedures.
CYPRUS TALKS WILL BE CONTINUED ON BASIS OF ANNAN PLAN
Talat said that Cyprus talks would be continued on basis of Annan plan according to information given to them in the meetings held earlier in the day.
Talat stated that changes which could not be accepted should not be foreseen in Annan plan.
``I guess Ankara`s stance is the same. But, Ankara has not concluded its work yet,`` Talat said.
Talat stated that there was not any problem with who the negotiator would be.
The government, parliament and president should continue the talks altogether, Talat noted.
Talat added, ``who will sit at negotiation table is not important. Maybe, (TRNC President Rauf) Denktas will not sit at this table. Maybe, another person will sit at this table. Maybe, prime minister, foreign minister or president will sit at the table from time to time.``