President Denktas yesterday (January 13) approved the new CTP-BG-DP coalition government set up under the leadership of Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.

The two new coalition partners, CTP leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and Democrat Party (DP) leader, Serdar Denktas yesterday visited President Denktas and presented the new Council of Ministers list.

Speaking to the press, President Denktas said he had approved the Council of Ministers list presented to him by CTP leader and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and would send the relevant letter to the TRNC Parliament.

President Denktas said: "As the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the TRNC State, for the tranquillity and future of our State and people I wish you success in your efforts to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots that will preserve the tranquillity and future of the TRNC and its people".

Since the establishment of the Cyprus Turkish Federated State, the members of the new cabinet of the 18^th government is as follows:

Prime Minister: Mehmet Ali Talat
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence: Serdar Denktas
Finance Minister: Ahmet Uzun
Minister for Youth and Sports: Ozkan Yorgancioglu
Minister for National Education and Culture: Erbil Akbil
Minister for Health and Social Aid: Huseyin Celal
Minister for Public Works and Transport: Omer Kalyoncu
Minister for the Interior: Ozkan Murat
Minister for Labour and Social Security: Erkan Emekci
Minister for Economy and Tourism: Ayse Donmezer
Minister for Agriculture and Forestry: Rasit Pertev

The new government’s program will be read out in the TRNC Parliament within one week and two days after its reading, negotiations on the Government Program will start. One day after the negotiations end, the Government Program will be put to a vote of confidence.

According to Article 129 of the TRNC Parliament’s Statute, the vote of confidence will be carried out by a system of open voting and during the voting procedure if the number of "yes" votes exceeds the "no" votes, the Council of Ministers will be approved. Otherwise, the Council of Ministers would not receive the vote of confidence and the Prime Minister would have to present his resignation to the President.

President Denktas yesterday (January 13) received Matya Eörsi, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Political Affairs Committee Rapporteur.

Following the completion of his contacts in South Cyprus, Eorsi crossed over to the TRNC from the Ledra Palace checkpoint and had his first meeting with President Denktas and was the President’s guest for lunch.