Thursday, February 17, 2005

'A new era for Turkish Cypriot politics'

"'A new era for Turkish Cypriot politics'
By Simon Bahceli

MEHMET Ali Talat and Serdar Denktash, both candidates in Sunday�s general election in the north, spelt out yesterday that a return to past Turkish Cypriot policies on the Cyprus problem would seriously set back efforts to reunite the island.

�This election will once again show Turkish Cypriots are following a new line � a great change in policy,� current �prime minister� Talat told the Cyprus Mail yesterday, adding:

�We have to prove we do not believe in continued division, but are trying to reunify the island, and that if there is an obstacle to reunification, it is not us�

Opinion polls suggest Talat�s Republican Turkish Party (CTP) will get the largest share of Sunday�s vote, but is likely to share power with current coalition ally Serdar Denktash�s Democrat Party (DP). "

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