CTP-BG’s consultations continue as part of efforts to form a government. The CTP delegation, which met with UBP and TDP the day before, visited DP Ulusal Güçler yesterday. I was among those covering the visit. Comments from various segments of society suggesting that the coalition government should be CTP-DPUG must have made this visit even more interesting, as press interest in it was quite high. The statements made after the meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, showed that both Mr. Denktaş and Mr. Yorgancıoğlu were in very good spirits. Jokes were flying during the press briefing. The playful mood that began with yogurt and milk being served continued after the meeting as well. This good humor was reflected in the statements: the parties announced that they had agreed on everything except the Cyprus Problem. Meanwhile, we learned an interesting detail from Mr. Denktaş’s remarks: during CTP’s visit to DPUG, liver had been served. But as it happens, Mr. Denktaş doesn’t like liver; and, interestingly, Mr. Yorgancıoğlu doesn’t care for the milk served by DPUG either. In fact, neither of the refreshments was meant to be eaten or drunk: 2\. While CTP recalled former President Mr. Talat’s remark that “DP takes a man’s liver” by serving liver, DPUG wanted to say, by serving yogurt, that it had not forgotten what happened in 2006, that it had been burned 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 taking precautions accordingly.
To be honest, I was pleased to see such subtle messages being conveyed through refreshments and our politicians being so cheerful. I believe that many countries could take our politicians as an example in this regard.
But if a CTP-DPUG 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 period. Otherwise, like UBP, both parties will get the response they deserve from the public at the next election.
Now CTP and DPUG are expected to meet again for coalition talks. But can yogurt and liver go together? I don’t know what the government program will look like if the two parties join forces, 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!
Liver with Yogurt Recipe
Ingredients: 1 kg liver, 4 long green peppers, 1 medium onion, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, curry (to taste), 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 medium onion, finely chopped. Then add 4 long green peppers, chopped into thin slices. Sauté all the ingredients. Once cooked, cut the liver into small pieces and add it to the peppers and onion. Add 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, and curry (to taste). Spoon 3 tablespoons of yogurt onto a flat plate. Add the sautéed mixture. Our liver with yogurt is ready to serve.