‘Goodwill dining’, says president

MR AKINCI said yesterday he would attend Monday’s dinner with good will, and would “talk sincerely if there is really an intention, a will, and a dream of a shared future”.

The comment came after the president met leaders of political parties represented in Parliament — an hour-and-a-halflong session overshadowed by a public spat between Mr Akıncı and main opposition National Unity Party head Hüseyin Özgürgün. Former premier Mr Özgürgün declined to attend, saying on TV his absence was because the president was “mired in politics” and commenting: “I respect his official seat but have no respect for Akıncı.”

Mr Akıncı responded yesterday that he had heard through the press that Mr Özgürgün would not be at the meeting, and he had not replied to the Presidency’s invitation.

“If he does not deem it appropriate to take part, there’s not much to say . . . On the ‘respect’ issue . . . you get as much respect as you give. This sort of action says, ‘I don’t want an invitation’, so we will abide by that request.”