NORTHERN CYPRUS: REPUBLICAN TURKISH PARTY HOLDS LAST RALLY AHEAD OF TINY ENCLAVE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Record ID: 215440

  • Title: NORTHERN CYPRUS: REPUBLICAN TURKISH PARTY HOLDS LAST RALLY AHEAD OF TINY ENCLAVE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
  • Date: 15th April 2005
  • Summary: (W5) NICOSIA, NORTHERN CYPRUS (APRIL 15, 2005) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF REPUBLICAN TURKISH PARTY RALLY 0.11 2. SCU: CROWD WAVING FLAGS WITH PICTURE OF PRESIDENT CANDIDATE MEHMET ALI TALAT 0.16 3. TALAT AND WIFE APPEARING ON STAGE 0.25 4. VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS (6 SHOTS) 1.05 5. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) PRIME MINISTER
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NICOSIA, NORTHERN CYPRUS
  • Country: Cyprus
  • Reuters ID: LVA94RTFQGKO4I1I3G6FESFUN4UJ
  • Story Text: Republican Turkish party holds last rally ahead of
    presidential elections in northern Cyprus.


    Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat is
    hot favourite to win Sunday's presidential election in his
    tiny enclave and is expected to push for a revival of
    stalled peace talks with rival Greek Cypriots.

    On Friday (April 15) thousands filled the streets to
    show support for Mehmet Ali Talat. Speaking at the rally
    Talat told supporters he would preserve their rights.

    " I promise that under every conditions and at every
    platform I will preserve your rights, human rights,
    humanity honour, equality rights, no matter whoever stands
    against me."
    Nine candidates are standing to lead the enclave of
    200,000 people, which split from the Greek Cypriots when
    Turkey invaded in 1974 after a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at
    union with Greece.

    The winner needs more than 50 percent of the vote to
    clinch victory on Sunday and avoid a second ballot.

    Talat, currently prime minister, says he is confident
    of winning more than 60 percent, replicating the two-thirds
    "yes" vote that the north gave to a U.N. reunification plan
    in a referendum 12 months ago.

    That plan was scuppered by the Greek Cypriots, who
    voted strongly against it. Days later the Greek Cypriot
    government joined the European Union in the name of the
    whole island, while the north remains isolated by
    U.N.-backed sanctions.



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