The government program of the National Unity Party (UBP)-Democrat Party (DP)-Rebirth Party (YDP) was read out in the parliament on Friday.

The programme which was read out by Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu outlines the government’s plans during its five-year term in office ranging from the economy to politics and other areas of social life.

Regarding foreign policy and the Cyprus Issue, the coalition government expresses its determination to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Pointing out that efforts to reach a bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement have been exhausted after 50 years of unsuccessful talks, Sucuoğlu said that the time had come to focus on other solution options, primarily a two-state solution based on sovereign equality as announced by the Turkish Cypriot side during the informal five-plus one meeting held in Crans Montana in the April of 2021.

Sucuoğlu said that the new coalition government in consultation and collaboration with motherland Turkiye will work towards the recognition of the TRNC’s sovereign equality and the acceptance of its equal international status.

Also touching upon the issue of hydrocarbons, the Prime Minister said that the government with the support of the Turkish government will continue to defend its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The government will not allow the Greek Cypriot administration to ignore and usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and will respond in kind to any steps to be taken by the Greek Cypriot side. The Turkish Cypriot side’s proposals and calls for collaboration on the issue of hydrocarbons which aims at bringing stability to the Eastern Mediterranean will continue to remain valid,” he said.

Sucuoğlu also said that the government will continue to support initiatives and utilize all opportunities to voice the cause of the Turkish Cypriot people at international platforms and organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) or the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).

“A number of concrete steps will be taken to ease the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people. All efforts will be made to explain and convey the injustices being committed against the Turkish Cypriot people,” the prime minister said.

On the issue of Maraş, Sucuoğlu said that the government will continue to take steps within the framework of international law, to reopen the fenced-off town to civilian settlement.

“The fenced-off city of Maraş is TRNC land and we shall be undertaking various initiatives to explain to the public and international community that the steps taken are in harmony with international law,” he added.

Discussions on the government program will start two days after the reading out of the government program, on Monday, February 28.

A vote of confidence is scheduled to take place in parliament on Wednesday March 2, a day after discussions are completed or on Thursday if deliberations extend over to Tuesday.

Meanwhile, elections for the Parliamentary Bureau will be held on the same day as the vote of confidence.

The groups will present their candidates for the Speaker of Parliament before the elections.

According to the outcome of the January 23 general election only the UBP and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) have groups in parliament.