Denktash eyes coalition gov't after Cyprus poll

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 18, 2003

Denktash eyes coalition gov't after Cyprus poll

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Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said Wednesday he favours a coalition government after a landmark election in his enclave ended in a draw between supporters and opponents of a United Nations plan to reunify Cyprus.

But the leader of the main pro-settlement party, the largest in the new assembly, said he could only join such a coalition if it worked for reunification in time to allow the whole island to join the European Union next May - a stance unlikely to please Denktash.

Sunday's cliffhanger parliamentary election was effectively a referendum on Denktash's rejection of the UN blueprint, which envisages a federal government for Cyprus with broad autonomy for the two ethnic communities, the Greeks and Turks.

Supporters and opponents of the UN plan won 25 seats apiece in the Turkish Cypriots' 50-seat assembly, whose legitimacy is recognized only by Turkey, forcing Denktash into difficult consultations with the party leaders.

The veteran leader said on Monday new elections may be necessary early next year to break the deadlock.

"I believe that the public preference is for a national government... I am going to suggest to all the party leaders that they co-operate," Denktash said ahead of yesterday's talks.

The internationally recognized government of Greek Cypriots in the south of the island is set to take Cyprus into the EU in May. Failure to seal an accord by then would deepen the Turkish Cypriots' isolation and could harm Turkey's bid to join the EU.

"We are the only party which can form a government for the time being," Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the pro-settlement Republican Turkish Party, said after meeting Denktash.

"The option of a national government should not be excluded if its policy is to resolve the Cyprus problem by May 2004 and to join the EU as a united island," he told reporters.

Earlier, Denktash, 79, said he had an open mind about the composition of the new government, but said it must not threaten the existence of the Turkish Cypriot "state."

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