In the EU General Affairs Council, EU foreign ministers have approved the decision to start studies for launching direct trade with the TRNC without further delay.

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"With respect to the implementation of its April 2004 conclusions, the Council notes the progress made in particular as regards the financial aid regulation the objective of which is to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus. Work aiming at the adoption of the Commission proposal for a Council Regulation on special conditions for trade with the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control must resume without delay. "

Republic of Turkey’s Commander in Chief of Land Forces Full General İlker Başbuğ who arrived to the TRNC yesterday (22 January) received by President Mehmet Ali Talat.

Speaking during the meeting President Mehmet Ali Talat stressed that with the support of Turkey, Turkish Cypriots worked for a permanent and just conciliation in the island and took important steps in this direction.

Drawing attention to the fact that Turkish Cypriots proved their determination towards achieving peace, President Talat said: “This is a recorded fact in the world’s history, that cannot be altered” and added that after this point Turkish Cypriots’ intention regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem could not be questionned.

Pointing out that the isolations, which have been imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots, were very unjust and ending the isolations was compulsory. Continuing, President Talat said:

“Of course our main aim is to achieve a solution in which our political equality will be guaranteed within the framework of the UN, Turkey’s guarantee will continue and there will be a mechanism where the two peoples could live together in peace. We have not given up on this aim. For this reason, just like we succeeded in the process of putting the historical UN plan to a vote, we have continued to put forward our good intention after this process. There is no doubt about this.”

President Talat stated that Security Forces Commandership and Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commandership were continuing to work in cooperation especially for the security of the TRNC.

Pointing to the armament efforts of South Cyprus, President said: “Although this might not seem so significant in the face of the power of Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish Peace Forces, we are concerned about this, in terms of Greek Cypriots’ intention.”

For his part, the Commander in Chief of the Turkish Land Forces Full General İlker Başbuğ expressing pleasure to be in the TRNC explained that he came to the island in order to attend “Peace-2007 Planned Military Exercise” to be undertaken by Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commandership and to carry out inspections in various Turkish military units.

Continuing General Başbuğ said:

“As Turkish Armed Forces, we have always desired a just and permanent peace and a settlement to be found to the Cyprus problem. We consider Cyprus and the Cyprus problem as a common national cause for both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots. It is our and TRNC’s basic aim to develop and to improve the TRNC, which we are very happy to see today, and also to protect the existence and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people as well as to improve their prosperity.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı who is currently in Jeddah yesterday (22 January) met with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.

According to the information given by the Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the meeting Avcı gave information about the point reached in the Cyprus issue and discussed the measures to be taken in order to improve the relations amongst OIC member countries.

Besides these, they exchanged views on the projects submitted to the dependent establishments of OIC and the projects to be submitted soon by the TRNC to Islamic Solidarity Fund and Islamic Development Bank.