32nd ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ORGANISATION’S FOREIGN
MINISTERS’ MEETING…
IHSANOGLU: “WE SUPPORT LIFTING OF THE ISOLATION”
At the 32nd
Islamic Conference Organisation’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting which is
continuing in Sana, the capital city of Yemen, Azerbaijan and Pakistan
have expressed their determination to provide full support to the Turkish
Cypriot people in their struggle to become part of the international
community.
Speaking
at the plenary session of the Sana meeting whereas the TRNC was
represented as “Turkish Cypriot State” in line with the decision adopted
at the 31st I.C.O foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul last
year, Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Pakistan stressed that the
isolation imposed upon the TRNC should be removed.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov said the Cyprus problem
failed to be resolved after the Greek Cypriot side rejected the UN plan
last year. Criticizing the international community for its unwillingness
to respond to necessities of the Turkish Cypriot people and for its
ignorance of the Cyprus problem and stating that they felt upset as the
government of Baku, Mr. Memmedyarov pointed that the European Union had
failed to put the free trade and financial assistance regulations in
force.
In his
speech at the plenary session, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Abdul Settar
pledged continued support for the economic integration of the Turkish
Cypriot people with the rest of the world. Underlining that the isolation
imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots should be lifted, Pakistani Foreign
Minister Abdul Settar said a solution to the Cyprus problem should be
based on bi-zonality and the political equality of the two sides on the
island.
On the
other hand, in his speech at the General Council, the General Secretary of
the I.C.O Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stated that they are supporting efforts of
the UN Secretary-General for resolution of the Cyprus problem.
The draft
resolution, under the heading ‘The situation in Cyprus’, in which it is
stated that member states of the I.C.O have full support towards the
rightful case of the Turkish Cypriot people and it is emphasized that
immediate steps should be taken by the international community towards the
removal of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, was approved at
committee level, untouched, despite Greek Cypriot attempts to introduce
changes in its working. The draft resolution is expected to be put to the
foreign minister’s approval at today’s plenary.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SERDAR
DENKTAS ADDRESSED GENERAL COUNCIL OF I.C.O
Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas addressed
member states on the second day of the 32nd meeting of the
Islamic Conference Organization’s plenary session as “Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Turkish State”.
Calling
to 56 member states of the I.C.O, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas said that “we want to improve our relations
with the member states at fields of trade, tourism, transportation,
information, sports and investment”.
Requesting from the member states to take into consideration the new
period and situation, which initiated at the aftermath of April 2004
referendum, Minister of Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas, said “we expect
greater support from the member states of the I.C.O for ending of the
isolation”.
Reminding
that the TRNC has an observer status in the I.C.O., Serdar Denktas
repeated TRNC’s demand to become a full member and added “full membership
is our sole aim. This will enable us to take our rightful place within the
world states”.
Minister
of Foreign Affairs said the following:
“Following
the referandum on 24 April 2004, the
Cyprus
issue has taken a new turn and a new states of affairs has emerged. After
such a strong “No” by the Greek Cypriot side in the separate simultaneous
referanda, which meant overwhelmingly rejecting the comprehensive
settlement plan of the UN Secretary General, we are very grateful for
resolution on the situation in Cyprus adopted at the 31st
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Istanbul last year. The
aforementioned resolution has enabled the Turkish Muslim People of Cyprus
to participate in the OIC under the name of Turkish Cypriot State as
envisaged by UN Secretary General’s comprehensive settlement plan.
Although this is a very strong message by the IOC, reaffirming the total
equality of the two parties in Cyprus, we are further urging the member
states to strengthen effective solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots with a
view to helping us to overome the inhuman isolation, and to increase and
expand our relations in all fields and in particular direct transport,
trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports contacts. In
line with the spirit of the resolution adopted in Istanbul, we call upon
all member states to further develop bilateral relations with the TRNC.
In this connection, I
have the pleasure to express herewith my desire to visit every single OIC
country together with a delegation to further enhance bilateral relations
and cooperation. I have already paid visits to the brotherly countries of
Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Gambia and, I can
assure all the esteemed delegates that our visits will continue in the
days ahead. Delegations from the TRNC have also participated in travel and
tourism exhibitions and conferences in Senegal, Azerbaijan, United Arab
Emirates and Egypt, and we expect to attend similar events due to take
place in other OIC countries. Furthermore, I would like to avail myself of
this opportunity to invite delegations from all the OIC countries to visit
the TRNC at their earliest convenience.
Mr. Chairman,
Last but not the least,
as an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, we appeal
to you all to upgrade our observer status to that of a full member so that
we may take our rightful place among the global family of nations.
Thank you Mr. Charman.”
It was
stated that the proposal of Luxembourg, the current term President of the
Council of the EU, about the issue of separation of financial aid and
direct trade regulations was rejected in line with the Turkish Cypriot
side’ views.
According
to the information given by the Presidency Press Office, the proposal was
presented to representatives of member states of the EU during the meeting
in Brussels, which held previous day.
England,
Holland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Litvania, Poland and
Portugal were also rejected Luxembourg’s proposal.
President
Mehmet Ali Talat expressed that the Turkish Cypriot side is spending the
necessary effort for resolution of the problem.
In his
letter written to the Nicholas Schmit who is the current President of the
Council of the EU, President Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side
is against to the separation of financial aid and direct trade regulations
from each other and added that application of the financial aid should be
at least associated to the approval of direct trade regulation.
President
Talat thanked to the EU term presidency for bringing together the Turkish
Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot delegations for negotiations and stressed
that this meeting was important as the two sides came together for the
first time after April 2004 referendum.
