Statements after the “elections’” results; Eroglu and Akinci are determining their strategy for the second round
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (20.04.15) publishes statements by the four main candidates of yesterday’s “presidential elections” after the results were finalized.
Dervis Eroglu, who passed in the second round, said that if there had been a bigger turnout, these “elections” would have finished this Sunday and called on those who did not go to the ballots in the first round to do so in the second one. He went on and added that the period ahead is critical since the Cyprus negotiations will be re-launched in May and added that a person who will represent the rights of the “TRNC and the TRNC people” must be elected. He said that as regards himself he has faith and experience on the issue and added that those who believe in the future of the “TRNC” and want Turkey’s guaranteed to continue must vote for him.
As regards the strategy he will follow in order to select votes for the second round, Eroglu said that he will meet with the parties that support him and he will determine their plan. However, he will also hold contacts with Kudret Ozersay and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).
On his part, Serdar Denktas the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) which supported Eroglu for the elections expressed the belief that Eroglu will definitely be the winner of the second round.
Mustafa Akinci, who also passed in the second round, noted that the elections results showed that the “people need change”. Akinci who delivered a speech after the results were announced, stated that the Turkish Cypriot community has passed a difficult test with this “election”. Reminding that his main focus is finding a solution to the Cyprus problem Akinci said that he will do everything he can to reach a settlement which will benefit both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities equally. “This island’s people, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have suffered a great deal of pain. Here tonight I promise to do everything I can on my part to reach a solution that will allow all of us to live peacefully with each other as brothers and sisters ”, he stated.
According to the paper, Akinci also said that he will hold meetings today with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and with Kudret Ozersay and he will ask for their support and co-operation for the second round of the “elections”.
CTP candidate Sibel Siber stated that the election had been a democratic one; she wished the two candidates who have gone through to the second round all the best.
The chairman of CTP and self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu stated that his party did not expect the outcome of the “elections” and added that CTP will convene today in order to decide which candidate will support in the second round. According to Havadis, CTP is expected to support Mustafa Akinci.
On his part, Kudret Ozersay stated that the persons who voted for him can cast freely a vote to any of the two candidates passed in the second round of the “elections”.