ANKARA - TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, who is currently in Ankara visited on Saturday CHP leader Deniz Baykal.
Eroglu said that ''it is our biggest wish to be in cooperation to protect the interests of both Turkish Republic and also the Turkish Cypriot people.''
CHP leader Baykal said in his part that it is Turkey's basic responsibility to extend support to TRNC during its difficult period.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Eroglu said that they are pleased with the importance and priority Baykal attributes to Cyprus issue. Eroglu said that TRNC went through difficult days, adding that ''it is our biggest wish to have a good dialogue with both the ruling party and the opposition party in Turkey as it is known that the negotiations will start in January and continue until the end of February. I would like to thank Baykal for his approach towards TRNC people and his efforts for the national cause. I believe that the interests of TRNC people will be protected in cooperation with the parties in the parliament and the government in Turkey. Efforts will be launched to bring out an honourable agreement which will bring prosperity and security to TRNC.''
''Do you agree with Baykal about Annan's plan?'' asked a journalist to Erdogan who said that both Baykal and themselves have concerns about the content of the plan. Eroglu said that they share the same views with Baykal about reaching an agreement that will please the TRNC people.
When asked if he supports the continuation of economic assistance to TRNC, Baykal said, ''TRNC is under a siege. Embargoes are implemented in TRNC. The people who live there are suffering due to those implementations. I hope a result which will please Turkish Cypriot people will come out from the negotiations. Turkey has responsibility to protect and support TRNC, if an agreement is not reached. I hope the government will fully support TRNC. It is a significant historical responsibility. Supporting and protecting TRNC in this difficult period is the basic responsibility of Turkey,'' he noted.
When reminded about Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that Cyprus should learn 'how to fish' in economic field, Baykal said that Turkey should not leave TRNC alone in that period and added that Turkey had responsibility to give life to TRNC.
Eroglu quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Gul as saying that the government was in a point to fulfil commitments.
When asked whether he was informed about U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson's message to the government, Baykal said, ''it is understood that a new working period started on that issue. But the government does not tell decisions which were taken related to the issue, to the public opinion. The government should inform officially Turkish public opinion about developments on that issue.''