A discussion was held on the TRNC economy in a meeting organised by the Assembly of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, with the aim of giving support to the TRNC and President Denktas’ Cyprus policy.

Speaking at the meeting, President Denktas, thanking the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce for his determined stance on the national cause, explained his views regarding investments.

President Denktas also gave information on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and reiterated the reasons why the Turkish Cypriot side opposed the Annan Plan.

Giving brief information about the process starting from the destruction of the partnership republic by the Greek Cypriots in 1963 up until today, President Denktas said Cyprus was of vital importance for Turkey, and with the petroleum pipelines this importance has further increased.

Reiterating that the approach to the effect that, "Cyprus is an obstacle for Turkey’s entry into the EU", was not true, President Denktas said that through EU membership, the Greek Cypriots are trying to destroy the Turkish-Greek balance, which was secured with the 1960 Agreements.

Stressing that in the event of putting his signature on the Annan Plan, he would make this illegal situation legal, President Denktas said: "Cyprus cannot be a member of any organisation to which both Turkey and Greece are not members."

Pointing out that according to international laws and the 1960 Agreements the EU could not accept the membership of the whole island, President Denktas explained that this issue has greatly distressed the EU and added: "Cyprus is a good card for Turkey."

Turkey’s new arrangement to lift visa requirements for citizens of South Cyprus visiting Turkey, started yesterday.

Within this framework, yesterday a group, which included 266 nurses and doctors from South Cyprus, in order to participate in a meeting in Greece, entered Turkey through the Ipsala border gate in Edirne.