As part of efforts to form a government, the CTP-BG’s consultations are continuing. After meeting with the UBP and TDP the day before, the CTP delegation visited the DP National Forces yesterday. I was among those following the visit. The visit must have attracted even more interest because people from various parts of society were commenting that the coalition government should consist of CTP-DP-UG; media interest in the visit was very high. In statements made after the meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, we saw that both Mr. Denktaş and Mr. Yorgancıoğlu were in very good spirits. Jokes were flying during the press conference. The joking mood, which began with yogurt and milk being served, continued after the meeting. This good humor was reflected in the statements, too: the parties announced that they agreed on every issue except the Cyprus problem. Meanwhile, we learned an interesting detail from Mr. Denktaş’s remarks: liver had been served during DPUG’s visit to CTP. But it turns out that Mr. Denktaş doesn’t like liver; what’s interesting is that Mr. Yorgancıoğlu doesn’t like the milk served by DP-UG, either. In fact, neither offering was meant to be eaten or drunk: 2\. President Mr. Talat’s remark that “DP takes a man’s liver” was recalled by CTP through the serving of liver, while DP-UG, by serving yogurt, wanted to say that it had not forgotten what it went through in 2006, that it had been scalded by milk, and that it would blow on the yogurt before eating it. It seems that both parties have learned from the past and will enter into a coalition partnership having taken precautions accordingly.
To be honest, I was pleased to see such subtle messages conveyed through the food served, and our politicians being so cheerful. I believe many countries could take our politicians as an example in this regard.
But if a CTP-DP-UG coalition government is formed—and it looks as though it will be—it is worth remembering that the public’s expectations will be high. Both parties will be expected to fulfill the promises of change they made to the public during the election campaign. Otherwise, like the UBP, both parties will get the response they deserve from the public at the next election.
Now, CTP and DP-UG are expected to meet again for coalition talks. But can yogurt and liver come together? I don’t know what the government program will look like if the two parties come together, but I do know what happens when yogurt and liver come together. In case some of you don’t know, I’ll end my column with a recipe for “Liver with Yogurt.” Who knows, perhaps this dish will be served at the next CTP-DPUG meeting… Enjoy!
Recipe for Liver with Yogurt
Ingredients: 1 kg liver, 4 green peppers, 1 medium-sized onion, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, curry (as desired), 3 tablespoons yogurt Method: Put 1 kg of liver in a deep pot and bring it to a boil to cook. Pour olive oil into a pan. Add 1 finely chopped medium-sized onion. Then add 4 chopped green peppers. Sauté all the ingredients. Once cooked, cut the liver into small pieces and add it to the peppers and onions. Add 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and curry (as desired). Spoon 3 tablespoons of yogurt onto a flat plate. Add the sautéed mixture. Our liver with yogurt is ready to serve.