Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý who went to Ankara in order to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and carry out official contacts and then went to Saudi Arabia to attend the 8th Jeddah International Economic Forum, yesterday (26 February) came to the TRNC. Speaking to the press at Ercan Airport, Foreign Minister Avcý gave detailed information about his contacts in Ankara and Saudi Arabia and responded the questions of the journalists.

            Explaining that during his meeting with Abdullah Gul they exchanged views on the recent adventurous policies of the Greek Cypriot administration, the point reached in the Cyprus issue, strengthening the TRNC representative offices and future policies, Avcý said: “We share the same position with Turkish Republic on the issue of petrol crisis. Our cooperation on this issue will continue.”

            Stressing that the illegitimate Greek Cypriot leadership, which did not represent the Turkish Cypriot people and used every opportunity to cause a conflict in the region, created the petrol crisis, Avcý said: “Without a just, permanent and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, petrol problem cannot be solved.”

            Considering his meeting with Abdullah Gul as very sincere and fruitful, Avcý expressed his pleasure from Gul’s evaluation that:”there were lots of reasons and developments for the Turkish Cypriots to be more hopeful towards the future.”

            Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot leadership by continuing to isolate the Turkish Cypriots and impose embargoes on them, was causing a negative reaction amongst the Turkish Cypriots, Avcý said:

“Today’s Greek Cypriot leadership is in no way engaging in any kind of well-intentioned behaviour in response to the Turkish Cypriots’ good will and desire towards an equal and just settlement. Greek Cypriot administration does not have and never had the right to represent the Turkish Cypriots. They can only represent themselves, but not the Turkish Cypriots. Therefore, it cannot be said, thought or defended that there is a single state in the island of Cyprus. I stress once more that the one-sided agreements signed by the Greek Cypriot side are invalid. We clearly announce that only the TRNC can represent the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriot administration can in no way act on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots. I declare that the Turkish Cypriot side is determined to continue to defend its rights over the use of natural resources of the island including petrol in our seas and make it clear that no backward step will be taken on the issue.”

            Referring to his contacts in Jeddah, Foreign Minister Avcý said the 8th Jeddah International Economic Forum was an important international event where besides leading statesmen and businessmen, economists and experts also attended. Avcý added that in the Forum, they discussed the development of the commercial relations between the TRNC and Islamic countries and the contacts and initiatives to be made within the framework of the forthcoming 34th OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting in Islamabad.