FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “WE FORESEE 40-50 FOREIGN REPRESENTATIONS IN THE FORTHCOMING YEARS”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý gave a speech within the framework of the 2008 Financial Year Budget Bill meetings of the Republic’s Assembly’s Economy, Finance, Budget and Planning Committee.

Foreign Minister Avcý stated that increasing TRNC’s bilateral relations with other countries, opening more foreign representative offices and strengthening the Ministry’s infrastructure were amongst their priorities.

Explaining that recently the TRNC have close relations with the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) and the OIC Directorate was formed in the Ministry, Avcý said besides this, other directorates and desks for EU, UN and other regions were also formed and stressed that representations in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman had come up.

Pointing out that he wanted to talk about the Foreign Ministry of 2020, not of 2007 or 2008, Avcý said an ambassador could be raised up in 10-15 years and they envisaged opening 40-50 foreign representations in this period.

Avcý explained that for the first time they appointed a professional officer from the Foreign Ministry in order to support the works of the Turkish Cypriot Ministers representing the TRNC in the European Parliament. He added that a professional officer in the TRNC representative office in Brussels would also be appointed soon to help the studies of Italian Radical Party Deputies towards providing support for the Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament.

Stressing the importance of the start of the ferryboat services between the TRNC and Syria, Foreign Minister Avcý said this was a bridge for the TRNC’s relations with Middle East countries.

Referring to the act of giving TRNC passports to one Italian Deputy and one Former Deputy, Avcý said it is very important for an Italian Deputy who is responsible for Economic Affairs in the Italian Parliament to hold a TRNC citizenship.

Also referring to the contacts between the TRNC and Kuwait, Avcý said in the forthcoming days businessmen from Kuwait would visit the TRNC. Avcý added that Greek Cypriots were disturbed by every step taken by the Turkish Cypriot side.

Explaining that the Greek Cypriot administration was trying to open new embassies in OIC countries in response to the proactive policy of the Turkish Cypriot side by the OIC countries.

 

 

TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING
REHN CALLED UPON “FOR THE START OF SERIOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE NEGOATIATIONS IN CYPRUS WITH THE UN’S INITIATION”

Following Turkey-EU Troika Foreign Ministers Meeting, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan and EU Term President Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amada held a joint press conference.

Olli Rehn explained that during the meeting they mainly discussed Turkey’s reform process and issues related to peace and tranquility in Turkey’s region. Rehn called upon “the start of serious and comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus with the UN’s initiation”.

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan stated that the Cyprus issue was amongst the issues discussed during the meeting and said: “I conveyed our expectation from the friends in the EU to support the UN process. I explained that no one can get concessions from Turkey by using her EU bid. I am pleased to see that the EU is in favor of solving the Cyprus problem within the UN framework.”