Pro-EU leader offers chance of Cyprus deal

By David Cronin

Date: 18/12/03

THE leader of the main pro-EU party in northern Cyprus has held out the possibility of brokering a deal with Serdar Denktash, son of veteran Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktash, as part of efforts to reunite the Mediterranean island before it joins the Union.

Last weekend's election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - a state recognized only by Ankara - gave parties supporting and opposing UN-sponsored efforts to solve the Cyprus problem an equal number of seats in its 50-member parliament.

Analysts suggest that the resulting impasse could be broken if the pro-settlement parties can convince Serdar Denktash, head of the Democrat Party, to form a government with his father's critics.

Mehmet Ali Talat, head of the main opposition Turkish Republican Party, said: "I do not exclude such a possibility, though I am not enthusiastic about forming such a government."

Speaking to European Voice, Talat said he plans to hold talks with Serdar Denktash in the next few days to discuss forging a coalition pact before parliament reopens on 27 December.

Although Rauf Denktash has declared that new elections could be called in March if no government is formed, Talat described such an option as "dangerous", given the strains it would place on both public and political parties' finances.

Before the election Denktash said he would only step aside as negotiator in international talks on Cyprus' future if the opposition won by a large margin. But the 79-year-old president appeared to soften his stance yesterday (17 December), saying he does not insist on remaining as negotiator.

Talat contended Denktash no longer has a mandate to negotiate because he does not command the support of a majority in parliament.