President Mehmet Ali Talat, in an article written to the Washington Post on 22 May pointed out that although the Turkish Cypriot side had voted 'yes' and the Greek Cypriot side 'no' to the Annan Plan in last year's (24 April 2004) referendum, the Greek Cypriot side was the side that had gained.

Pointing out that although the EU was engaging in efforts to alleviate the TRNC's isolation, this was being prevented by the Greek Cypriot Administration, President Talat calling on the USA to lead the efforts to lift the TRNC's isolation, said; "Efforts carried out by the EU to end or at least alleviate our isolation has been hampered by the Greek Cypriot Administration. The EU leadership has still not found a way to settle the legal and political obstacles presented by the Greek Cypriot side, who had displayed its dissatisfaction at the EU's efforts".

Continuing, President Talat said: "I believe that the USA, with the steps it has taken towards alleviating the inhumane restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, will show further determination and take a leading role in

ending the isolation. The USA will not be intimidated by the Greek Cypriot side's stance, and as the world's only super power it has the opportunity and capability to achieve this. I call upon the USA to listen to our calls made to the international community for justice. The promise made by President Bush in his speech during the start of his second term that freedom and democracy would spread to even the darkest corners of the world, is a source of inspiration for everyone who believes in universal values".

Diplomatic initiatives started by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Serdar Denktas, with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Qatar) aimed at developing relations between the TRNC and the OIC countries as well as securing their support in ending the TRNC's isolation has now been extended to Africa, where he is currently on an official visit to develop relations with the Moslem countries in Africa.

In a statement issued regarding the visit, it was stated that, Minister Denktas recalling that on 28 September 2004 he had called on the OIC to take concrete steps in supporting a comprehensive settlement based on the principles of equality and bizonality and to end the Turkish Cypriot side's isolation, underlined the importance of the TRNC's relations with the OIC and stressed that the OIC, who had strongly supported the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people, by taking this case to the UN platform and, in particular, acting in line with the 24 April 2004 referendum result could play a leading role in getting the UN to adopt a resolution regarding the lifting of the Turkish Cypriot side's isolation.

Minister Denktas said; "We will continue to focus on developing our relations and initiatives with the OIC, who has 56 member countries in the UN and does not discriminate against the rich and poor. In order to provide our people live in welfare and tranquillity on the island we have to make good use of this potential, which is to our advantage in the OIC. While the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriot side is evident, it is impossible to do nothing and wait for something to happen. The time has come for the whole world to acknowledge and put an end to the injustices that the Turkish Cypriot people have been subjected to since 1963. And it is exactly at this point that the OIC can give us the necessary support".

The bones of so-called 'missing' Greek Cypriot Andonakis Kafeciis, who has allegedly been missing for 31 years, have been found in the Konstantinu Cemetery in Nicosia and the remains were taken to be buried in Paralimni.

According to the Greek Cypriot press, Kafeciis had died during the fighting on 17 August 1974 in Ayios Pavlos.