On January 24, President Rauf Denktas left for Ankara where he will have contacts with Turkish government officials on the latest point reached in the Cyprus issue as well as to discuss the road to be followed.

President Denktas yesterday (January 25) met with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and then Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Meanwhile, yesterday (January 25), TRNC Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Talat, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Ministe, Serdar Denktas, also met with Prime Minister Erdogan in Ankara.

Speaking to the press at Gecitkale Airport before his departure for Ankara, President Denktas said, within the framework of his contacts in Ankara he would be informed about last Friday’s (January 23) National Security Council meeting. He said the purpose of his contacts in Ankara would be to exchnage ideas on the point reached on the Cyprus issue and to identify the steps to be taken from now on.

Following President Denktas’ meeting with President Sezer, in a statement issued from the Turkish Presidency’s Press Office, it was stated that:

"The two Presidents have expressed their pleasure of mutual understanding between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on basic approach and principles in settling the Cyprus issue within the framework of the UN negotiation process.

In order to achieve a permanent peace and settlement through negotiations, within the framework of the principles outlined in the statement issued by the National Security Council on 23 January 2004, the two Presidents reiterated their determination to continue the existing close cooperation between the authorities of the two countries."

Meanwhile, following the completion of their meeting with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, TRNC Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Talat, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Serdar Denktas, went to the Turkish Presidential Palace, where they briefly met with President Denktas prior to his visit with President Sezer.

The new CTP-BG and DP coalition government, which officially presented its list of the new cabinet to President Denktas on January 13, received a vote of confidence in the TRNC Parliament on Saturday (January 24).

The new government received 26 "yes" votes, 18 "no" votes and 6 "abstaing" votes.

Following Turkey’s National Security Council meeting, which was headed by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, at the Cankaya Presidential Palace on January 23.

In the statement issued it was stated that:

"During the meeting the Cyprus issue was evaluated and the benefits and necessity of restarting initiatives in order to resume the Cyprus negotiation process was mutually agreed.

As previously announced to the public, Turkey will continue to support the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General and by taking the Annan Plan as a reference, reiterates her determination to achieve a settlement based on the realites on the island through a process of negotiations.