EFFORTS TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT
DP-CTP "YES" IN PRINCIPLE (08.01.2004 Time: 12:00)
The Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG),
which was assigned by President Denktash the duty of forming the new
government, has agreed in principle with the Democrat Party (DP) on setting
up a coalition to form the new government.
Following the meeting between the CTP-BG leader, Mehmet
Ali Talat, and DP leader, Serdar Denktas, this morning, both leaders
speaking to the press stated that the final decision to form the new
government together would become clear at the common meeting of the two
parties’ committees.
Upon the invitation of the Turkish Government, officials
of the CTP-BG, UBP, DP and BDH, who had returned to the TRNC Parliament
after the December 14, 2003, general elections, will today at 2:00pm meet
with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
CYPRUS SUMMIT MEETING IN ANKARA
While Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, who President Denktas gave the duty of forming the
new government to, is continuing with his efforts, last night (January 7),
Ankara made an invitation to (TRNC) political party leaders to go to Ankara
for contacts.
In this context, Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, National Unity Party (UBP) leader, Dervis Eroglu,
Democrat Party leader, Serdar Denktas and the leader of the Peace and
Democracy Movement (BDH), Mustafa Akinci will go to Ankara today for
contacts with Turkish officials.
The party leaders are today (January 8) expected to meet
with Turkish President, Ahmet Necet Sezer, Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Turkish Chief of Staff, Full general, Hilmi Ozkok, and Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, where the Cyprus issue will be
evaluated.
Studies prepared by officials from the Turkish Foreign
Ministry on the Annan Plan, which were first presented to Prime Minister
Erdogan and then to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and which were also
discussed in the Council of Minister meeting on Monday (January 5) will be
evaluated in detail in today’s summit meeting.
Meanwhile, Talat will this morning visit Democrat Party
leader, Serdar Denktas, who he asked to be the coalition partner in the new
government. Following this meeting, President Denktas, Talat and other
political party leaders will travel to Ankara.
Serdar Denktas stated that he would try to announce his
decision regarding Talat’s proposal to be the coalition partner today (January
8).
CYPRUS TURKISH FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION (TMT):
"CONTRADICTION BETWEEN WHAT GREEK CYPRIOTS SAY AND DO"
The Cyprus Turkish Fighters Association (TMT) has stated
that there is a deep contradiction between what the Greek Cypriots say and
do.
In his statement Yilmaz Bora, the Head of the Association’s
Executive Committee, stated that while on the one hand the Greek Cypriots
are putting forward their demands for a reduction in the number of Turkish
forces on the island and their eventual removal from the island, for de-mining
the island and a reduction in defence spending, on the other hand they’re
not mentioning the fact that they are providing air and sea bases to Greece
in South Cyprus, that they are heavily rearming and building a strategic
post to keep Erenkoy under control.
Pointing out that it was very clear that the Greek
Cypriots were not sincere, Bora said the Greek Cypriot side should apologize
for what they did to the Turkish Cypriots for the last 40-years and
compensate the Turkish Cypriots for all the financial and moral losses that
they were subjected to during this period.
Explaining that while it should be the Greek Cypriots and
Greece who should be held responsible for all the events, Bora said the EU
and the USA were trying to make the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey pay a price
again and there was no basis for this. He added: "It has become evident
what kind of trap foreign powers, on the pretext of settlement and EU
membership which is devoid of goodwill and sincerity, are trying to put us
into".
