President Denktas yesterday (18 April) visited Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat at the Prime Ministry and congratulated him on winning last Sunday's (17 April) presidential elections. Pointing out that he would wholeheartedly hand over the duty to Talat and support him in his efforts to achieve permanent peace based on the existence of the state, President Denktas said he wanted Talat to protect the state that was the product of the years long struggle.

Explaining that the path to be followed in settling the Cyprus issue required patience and logic which was possessed by the people and their representatives, President Denktas said cooperating with his people, assembly, government and the Turkish government Talat would select and follow the correct path. He added: "It's our duty to support him and our support will be one based on the existence of our state".

Pointing out that he didn't think pressures exerted on the Greek Cypriot side would eventually push them into following the correct path and that efforts had to be made to achieve this, President Denktas said "I think the new government and the new President will exert efforts in this direction". President Denktas said it was his heartfelt wish not to relive the past and the Turkish Cypriot side should not be content with an agreement only on paper that the Greek Cypriot side could rip up.

For his part, Prime Minister Talat defining President Denktas as a "historic person", and pointing out that he would always benefit from his experiences, said the Turkish Cypriot people had passed important exams in democracy and was continuing its determination and he would strive to achieve the aims set by the people.

Prime Minister Talat said: "In my opinion the message given by the Turkish Cypriot people is very clear. They want a just settlement that will protect their rights and not deprive them of their political equality and security. I am underlining all these points and today this duty has been entrusted in us. We will pursue this duty with great honour. In a modern world and as a modern community, in the forthcoming days we will pursue this period with the contributions and experiences of all our people."

"The forthcoming period is indeed a difficult and complicated one. It's not a period that can be followed in only one way. It is a period that has many directions and includes many different areas that we need to work hard on. We have to be and we are in very close relations with Turkey because, the Cyprus issue has become an integrated part of developments regarding Turkey. Of course our aim will be the aim directed by our people and we will exert all our efforts to achieve this aim", said Talat.

Mehmet Ali Talat, who won last Sunday's (17 April) Presidential elections, has started to receive congratulation messages from state and government officials both abroad and in Turkey.

In his message sent, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said: "In this period, which is going through an important phase in our national cause the Cyprus issue, Turkey will continue to engage in efforts for the tranquillity and prosperity of the TRNC, which is the symbol of the Turkish Cypriot peoples' desire for freedom and living in human conditions. In this valuable office that you have been elected for and in your duty to protect the rights and interests of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people, Turkey will be by your side and the Turkish Cypriot people".

In his message, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pointing that joints efforts towards a settlement had to be intensified, said Turkey would provide all kinds of support for the TRNC's development and for increasing the Turkish Cypriot peoples' welfare level. He added that Turkey would be in close cooperation with Talat and the TRNC government in order to reach this goal.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Spokesman of the US State Department, Adam Ereli said the USA welcomed the fact that the Turkish Cypriot peoples repeated their commitment to reuniting the island and achieving a comprehensive settlement. He said in order to reach a Cyprus settlement they hoped to work with all sides.

In his congratulation message, the Secretary-General of the European Council, Terry Davis, said they welcomed the support given by the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people for Mehmet Ali Talat in the presidential elections.

Following last Sunday's (17 April) presidential elections in the TRNC, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Mehmet Ali Talat, who was elected as the new TRNC President, will resume his new office on 24 April.

Prime Minister Talat will hand in his resignation to President Denktas on 23 April and in this way the government as well as Talat would have resigned. On the same day, Talat will also resign from his duty as the CTP Leader and as an MP in the Parliament. On 24 April, the Parliament will meet in an extraordinary meeting and Mehmet Ali Talat will be sworn in as the new President.