FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI TO ATTEND THE OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý will attend the 34^th Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which is to take place between the 15-17 May in Islamabad.

Foreign Minister Avcý will brief the OIC Foreign Ministers on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and draw attention to the Turkish Cypriot people’s expectations from the Islamic world on the removal of its unjust isolation, in his speech.

Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý will also be holding bi-lateral contacts with the Foreign Ministers of the OIC member countries aimed at improving the relations between the TRNC and OIC member countries.

 

 

ERCAKICA: “COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT IS AN URGENT NEED”

The approach employed by the Greek Cypriot politicians regarding what President Mr. Talat said about the development of Guzelyurt region has been informative in terms of revealing the expectations of the Greek Cypriot side and what should be done to end their reluctance concerning the settlement of the Cyprus problem. Although it is the Greek Cypriot side who still employ the stance refusing to reach any settlement, they also continue to act as if they have the right to hinder the development of the Turkish Cypriots and deem it as a “right”. In order to reach a settlement for the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriot side should be convinced that employing such an approach is not an action that can be described as constructive.

While spending efforts to obstruct the settlement of the problem, the Greek Cypriot side also attempts to exploit the problems the Greek Cypriots encounter as a result of the ongoing status of the problem. Efforts of transforming the issue concerning the “property problems” of the Greek Cypriots into an effective tool of the daily politics on their part is the best example of such exploitation.

As the Cyprus problem is still unsettled and the Turkish Cypriots are paying the price of the deadlock of the problem in various ways, settlement of the problems of the Greek Cypriots originating from the Cyprus problem is, naturally, not possible.

It is also not and will not be possible for the Turkish Cypriot side to kill time without taking the necessary steps for their economic and social development while the Greek Cypriot side hinders the settlement of the problem.

The reactions of the Greek Cypriot politicians to what President Mr. Talat said regarding the development of Guzelyurt is a clear indication of the importance of working for the economic and social development of the Turkish Cypriot people. The steps that will be taken for the economic and social development of the Turkish Cypriot people will serve as the primary factors which will guide the Greek Cypriot side to a comprehensive and just settlement. The fact that lifting of the international isolations imposed on Northern Cyprus will be significant during a process of settlement is once again confirmed through this example.

The Cyprus problem, which has been continuing for a long time now, has caused and still causes many difficulties for both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples living in Cyprus. Most of these difficulties are of nature that can be overcome, provided that a comprehensive settlement is reached. Therefore, we would like to underline once again that reaching a comprehensive settlement is “an urgent need”.

So as to motivate the Greek Cypriot side for a settlement, the international relations of the Turkish Cypriots and the required environment for their economic and social development should be developed and the efforts serving these purposes should be supported.

 

TRNC BUSINESSMEN DELEGATION IN KUWAIT…

The Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Erdengiz who heads a delegation of Turkish Cypriot businessmen, currently in Kuwait with the aim of carrying out various contacts and market research, gave an interview to the highly circulated Kuwaiti Daily, Al Anbaa.

Erdengiz stated that the opening of a representation office in Kuwait would greatly contribute to improving commercial and economic relations between the two countries and gave information about the contacts of the TRNC businessmen delegation in Kuwait.

Speaking about the variety and the quality of the food products produced in the TRNC, Erdengiz said they wanted to see Turkish Cypriot products and goods being sold on Kuwaiti market. Pointing out that the opening of a representation office in Kuwait should be an encouraging step for member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to follow suit, Erdengiz said this was necessary especially at a time when there was a need for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

Answering questions on the Cyprus problem, Erdengiz reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s support towards finding a just and lasting comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem but added that the Greek Cypriot administration had been trying to block the way towards a solution, especially after the Gambari process.

Within the framework of its contacts in Kuwait, TRNC businessmen delegation met with the Americana Food company and the Cooperatives Union. Following their visit to International Kuwait Investments Association, businessmen will have an interview with the Kuwaiti daily Al Watan.

The delegation also attended a dinner hosted in their honour by the Turkish Embassy in Kuwait on Friday (11 May) and on Saturday (12 May) atttended a meeting held at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

 

TURKISH CYPRIOT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO ORGANISE AN EVENT IN BRUSSELS

The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has announced that they would organize an event in Brussels on 15^th of May, when the COREPER (the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union) is going to discuss the issue of Direct Trade Regulation.

According to the information received by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber will go to Brussels on Tuesday (15 May) with businessmen, as well as with the representatives of various NGOs, universities and the press.

The President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Erdil Nami stated that the aim of the event was to remind the European Parliament that the Greek Cypriots are not the only inhabitants of Cyprus, there are Turkish Cypriots as well.

Erdil Nami pointed out that the event that would be held in the Schuman square in front of the EU Parliament Building, would call on the European Parliament to implement the Direct Trade Regulation and to keep its promises given to the Turkish Cypriots towards ending the economic embargoes and the isolation.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Group of the European Parliament and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce would organize a conference entitled “The Other Side of the Coin: Giving Turkish Cypriots a voice” on Wednesday (16 May) at the European Parliament in Brussels.

President Mehmet Ali Talat will go to Brussels on Wednesday in order to attend the conference and give a speech.