Ctp-dp Coalition Pledges Common Policy With Turkey To Solve Cyprus Problem

LEFKOSA - Republican Turkish Party (CTP)-Democrat Party (DP) coalition government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday pledged common policy with Turkey to solve Cyprus problem this year.
The coalition government's protocol underlined the prime target of the new TRNC government as ''reaching a Cyprus settlement before May through talks on the basis of the Annan plan.''
The protocol also declared that the two parties were in agreement to submit a settlement plan to a referendum and stressed that ''On a date the two sides would mutually agree on, simultaneous referenda (in both two sides) will be held.''
The CTP-DP coalition government also pledged in the protocol to initiate legal and administrative reform drive to harmonize and restructure the TRNC state in all fields with the norms of the European Union.
In a Cyprus settlement deal, the protocol underlined, the coalition government would protect the ''guarantor rights'' of Turkey on Cyprus derived from international agreements.
The protocol, answering to the thorny question of who would represent the Turkish Cypriot side in the Cyprus talks process stresses that the negotiations would be continued with harmony between President Denktas and the government.
The protocol stresses that the new government would aim to achieve full integration of northern Cyprus, which has been under an international economic and political embargo, with the global economy.
The ''fundamental principles'' of the coalition were listed in the protocol as:
1- Achieving welfare and happiness of the Turkish Cypriot people will be the fundamental guide to be followed in forging and implementing government decisions;
2- The government will be a coalition government that will undertake an important function in the settlement process and in harmonizing the state mechanism in northern Cyprus with EU norms;
3- The coalition government, on the basis of the partnership status that will come to being with a settlement, foresee political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people and their founding states and a sovereignty shared (by the two peoples and founding states) in the whole of Cyprus, and retained solely in our founding state;
4- In a settlement, Turkey's guarantor rights on Cyprus derived from international treaties shall be safeguarded;
5- The CTP-DP coalition in resolution of the Cyprus problem foresees exchange of opinions with Turkey and forging a common policy. The coalition foresees development of existing economic, social and cultural relations with Turkey on the basis of mutual interests and solidarity;
6- In the solution of economic, social and other problems in the country, the coalition is in full consensus for a restructuring in conformity with EU norms;
7- In conformity with the ''Youth is our future'' understanding, youth will be given importance; on the communal basis a restructuring will be initiated on the basis of equality of gender and opportunity;
8- Government will be transparent and accountable;
9- Importance will be attached to foreign relations of the Turkish Cypriot people and government. Promotion of Turkish Cypriot relations with Greece and Greek Cypriot relations with Turkey will be assisted.
(AY) 19.01.2004