CTP-DP agree on principles of coalition in Cyprus

NICOSIA (AA) – Democrat Party (DP) leader, TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said on Saturday that the studies for formation a coalition government with Republican Turkish Party (CTP) continued positively.

Serdar Denktas said that they could finish the studies this evening if there was no problem.

Speaking to reporters while leaving CTP-DP committee meeting, Denktas said that they reached agreement on general principles for formation of CTP-DP coalition government, adding that detailed studies should be carried out at this stage.

Denktas said that CTP proposed a tripartite coalition government among CTP-DP and Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), adding DP could only accept it if the government was led by DP. Noting that CTP didn’t accept it, Serdar Denktas said that therefore they didn’t discuss the tripartite coalition possibility. "As a last alternative we continue studies for formation of a two-party government. At the moment the studies go positively. Maybe we can reach a result in the evening," he said.

Upon a question, Serdar Denktas said that they would start discussing the ministries later, adding they overcame the problems in other issues.

CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that part of the government programme was prepared and studies continued.

Noting that he informed BDH leader Mustafa Akinci about the developments last night, Talat said that "I would like to correct a wrong image-if there is such- that has been given as if BDH is after joining the government by all means. This is not true."

Talat said that they would form a government for social compromise and solution of Cyprus problem, adding that this was the target of the government.

After the two leaders’ leaving the committee meeting, the committees continued studies under the leadership of two parties’ secretary generals.