SERDAR DENKTAS RETURNS TO TRNC
Following the completion of his contacts within the
framework of the studies of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Serdar Denktas, yesterday (4 April) returned to the TRNC.
Attending the OIC meeting at the level of ministers for
the first time, Minister Denktas met with the OIC Secretary-General, the
Cooperation Council of the Gulf Countries and officials from the Islamic
Development Bank.
During his contacts, referring to the resolution taken at
the OIC meeting in Istanbul, Minister Denktas requested the help of the OIC
Secretary-General in order to establish bilateral contacts.
Within this framework, Serdar Denktas also met with the
Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf Arab Countries (KIK),
Abdulrahman Hamad Al Atiyah, and talked about the latest developments in the
Cyprus issue. The KIK has its headquarters in Riyadh and is made up of six
Gulf countries.
Pointing out that Islam has been practiced in Cyprus
since the death of Hala Sultan on the island, Serdar Denktas said the Greek
Cypriot Administration did not acknowledge the political equality of the
Turkish Cypriots and considered themselves as the sole owners of the island.
Explaining that during the 31st OIC Foreign
Ministers' Meeting in Istanbul last year, a resolution was adopted to put an
end to the unjust isolation that has been imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot
people for years, Serdar Denktas said within the framework of this
resolution the Turkish Cypriot side was trying to establish bilateral
relations and this included the six members of the KIK, who could contribute
to the formation of this cooperation.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation
Council of the Gulf Arab Countries (KIK), Abdulrahman Hamad Al Atiyah,
stated that, the KIK was pursuing the OIC resolution and wanted to establish
good relations with the Turkish Cypriots. He stated that the Turkish Cypriot
people in Cyprus should also possess the right to political equality and
self-determination.
Explaining that the KIK supported the efforts of the UN
to achieve a Cyprus settlement, Al Atiyah said, the KIK would provide the
necessary support in order to eliminate the isolation imposed upon their
Moslem brothers, to make their voices heard in the international arena and
to secure their representation in international organizations.
Serdar Denktas, pointing out that he had observed that
the OIC countries were now more determined to stand by their resolution
adopted in Istanbul last year, said, it would now be much easier to further
develop bilateral relations, which couldn't be established for many years.
