Talat: I am ready to get responsibility to form govt.

December 17, 2003 admin-dominor

LEFKOSA (AA) – Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Wednesday that they were ready to undertake responsibility to form the government.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas received Talat on Wednesday.

Following the meeting, Talat told reporters that they told Denktas that they wanted to undertake the responsibility to form the government in the meeting.

Stating that Denktas and he exchanged views on Cyprus issue and some other issues, Talat said that there was no other political party which had the possibility to form the government.

Talat stressed that they were ready to undertake the responsibility to form the government and stated that party assembly assigned him to form the government.

Talat said that Denktas and he did not reach a conclusion on formation of a national government and noted, "as Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, every kind of government formation is possible to solve Cyprus issue till May 2004. If the authority is given to us and even the authority is not given to us, we will launch our studies."

Upon a question, Talat said that their request to change the negotiator was brought onto agenda during his meeting with Denktas and the issue of negotiator was a constitutional issue, adding that Denktas would make a legal evaluation about this issue.

Noting that national government understanding meant to form a government with the participation of all parties, Talat said that they would meet with all parties and if they would reach an understanding, they would take a step within this direction.

Talat said that an official contact was not established with Turkey, adding that only Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had phoned them.

Talat said that he did not have any information about the plan that Turkey prepared regarding Cyprus.

Talat said that they would evaluate every type of government model within the scope of solution of Cyprus question until May 1, 2004 and membership of Cyprus as a whole to the European Union (EU).