Talat: coalition with Eroglu unlikely

TURKISH Republican Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday he could not see a coalition being formed between his party and the National Unity Party of outgoing ‘prime minister’ Dervis Eroglu.

Talat – whose party came out top in the December 14 ‘parliamentary’ elections – on Monday received a mandate from Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to form a ‘government’ in the north. Pro and anti Denktash blocs each control 25 seats in the 50-seat assembly.

Talat this week held talks with all the parties elected to ‘parliament’.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency yesterday, Talat his talks with Eroglu had been cautious, adding he did not believe Eroglu would agree to join the Turkish Republican Party in coalition, although he did not rule out the possibility altogether.

Talat said the main topics of conversation with Eroglou had been the Annan plan and negotiations that would pave the way towards a settlement to the Cyprus problem before May 2004.

They also discussed the matter of whether negotiations should be conducted by the Turkish Cypriot ‘government’ instead of by Denktash. “In other words we suggest that Mr Denktash be removed from the position of negotiator,” said Talat.

He stressed no decisions had been reached in the meeting.

Talat said his talks with Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktash, son of the Turkish Cypriot leader, had also revolved around the Annan Plan.
Asked how he would react to potentially unacceptable National Unity Party demands on changes to the Annan plan, Talat said there were other options. “We do not have to form a coalition government with the National Unity Party. We can form a government with the Democratic Party and the Peace and Democracy Movement instead.”

Talat said he believed he could form a ‘government’ and did not want to leave the Turkish Cypriot people without leadership.

“My meeting with (Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa) Akinci can be described as a friendly one between rivals and we discussed our relations with Turkey, Turkey’s stance and how our government here would best prosper the Turkish Cypriot people.”

Talat made clear he was not satisfied by a document presented by Eroglu containing 17 questions that had to be satisfied as a precondition for co-operation.
Eroglu has said the Annan Plan as it stands is not acceptable and that it is questionable whether it can be revised or improved.

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