TEXT OF THE STATEMENT BY

H.E. ASSOC. PROF. TURGAY AVCI

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

AT THE THIRTY FIFTH SESSION OF THE

COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE OIC MEMBER STATES

(KAMPALA, 18-20 JUNE 2008)

 

 

MR. CHAIRMAN,

MR. SECRETARY GENERAL,

YOUR EXCELLENCIES,

DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,

 

            IT IS A DISTINCT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO ADDRESS THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS (TRNC). I WOULD LIKE TO START MY SPEECH BY THANKING WHOLE-HEARTEDLY THE BROTHERLY GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA FOR THE WARM AND FRATERNAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO MYSELF AND MY DELEGATION FROM THE MOMENT OF OUR ARRIVAL IN THIS FRIENDLY MEMBER STATE.

 

I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, ONCE AGAIN, HIS EXCELLENCY PROF. ÝHSANOÐLU, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE OIC FOR MAKING EVERY ENDEVAOUR IN RENEWING THE OIC CHARTER WHICH WILL GIVE A TREMENDOUS IMPETUS TO OUR ORGANISATION TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE ISLAMIC UMMAH IN THE THIRD MILLENIUM AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT EXTENDED TO THE JUST CAUSE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE.

 

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HIS EXCELLENCY’S VAST EXPERIENCE AND ABLE LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE OIC AND THE STRENGHTENING OF THE BROTHERLY TIES BETWEEN THE OIC MEMBER STATES.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN,

 

            NEED FOR SUCH A LEADERSHIP AND A MORE EFFECTIVE ISLAMIC ORGANISATION IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE AT A TIME WHEN PEACE STILL ELUDES MIDDLE EAST, JAMMU AND KASHMIR REMAINS UNDER OCCUPATION, KARABAGH, AN INDIVISIBLE PART OF AZERBAIJAN, CONTINUES TO BE OCCUPIED BY ARMENIA, THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TURKISH MUSLIM MINORITY OF WESTERN THRACE IS BLATANTLY VIOLATED BY GREECE, AND BLOODSHED AND UNTOLD SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE PERSISTS.

 

IN A SIMILAR VEIN, THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE SUFFERED EVERY KIND OF BRUTAL TREATMENT INCLUDING MASSACRES, DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY AND OTHER FORMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AT THE HANDS OF GREEK CYPRIOTS BETWEEN 1963 AND 1974. TURKEY’S TIMELY INTERVENTION UNDER THE TREATY OF GUARANTEE PREVENTED THE TOTAL ANNIHILATION OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE ON 20 JULY 1974.

 

IN THIS CONNECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS, ONCE AGAIN, OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO OUR MOTHERLAND TURKEY FOR BRINGING PEACE TO THE ISLAND AND FOR THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT EXTENDED TO OUR COUNTRY.

 

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IN BRIEF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS PERTAINING TO THE CYPRUS ISSUE.

 

            FOLLOWING THE REFERANDA ON 24 APRIL 2004, THE CYPRUS ISSUE HAS TAKEN A NEW TURN AND A NEW STATE OF AFFAIRS HAS EMERGED. STRONG “NO” BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE IN THE SEPARATE SIMULTANEOUS REFERANDA MEANT OVERWHELMING REJECTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT PLAN OF THE THEN UN SECRETARY GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN.

 

            IN THE PERIOD THAT FOLLOWED, EFFORTS AIMED AT ENGAGING IN A NEW PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS UNDER UNITED NATIONS (UN) AUSPIECES COULD NOT YIELD RESULTS DUE TO THE INTRANSIGENCE OF THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE. THE ELECTION OF A NEW LEADER IN SOUTH CYPRUS, IN FEBRUARY 2008, RAISED EXPECTATIONS, FOR FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM. TO END THE DEADLOCK AND MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN THE ISLAND, OUR PRESIDENT MET WITH HIS GREEK CYPRIOT COUNTERPART ON 21 MARCH 2008. AT THE MEETING THE TWO LEADERS AGREED TO START FULL FLEDGED NEGOTIATIONS FOLLOWING A PREPARATION PERIOD. CONSEQUENTLY, SIX WORKING GROUPS, TO DISCUSS THE CORE ISSUES OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, AND SEVEN TECHNICAL COMMITTEES, TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO DAY TO DAY AFFAIRS, WERE ESTABLISHED AND THEY STARTED WORKING ON 7 APRIL 2008.

 

            DESPITE THESE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS, THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE DOES NOT APPEAR READY TO START FULL FLEDGED NEGOTIATIONS ON 21 JUNE AS PROVIDED FOR BY THE 21 MARCH AGREEMENT. MOREOVER, RECENT STATEMENTS MADE BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADERSHIP, CHALLENGING THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL UN PARAMETERS FOR A SOLUTION, ECHOING THE INTRANSIGENT VIEWS OF THE PAST NEGATIVE GREEK CYPRIOT STANCE, HAVE NOT BEEN ENCOURAGING.

 

            I WOULD LIKE TO RENEW, ONCE AGAIN, THE FIRM STANCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE TO RESUME, IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, THE FULL-FLEDGED NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO A NEW PARTNERSHIP ON THE BASIS OF THE POLITICAL EQUALITY OF THE TWO PEOPLES, BI-ZONALITY, THE EQUAL STATUS OF THE TWO CONSTITUENT STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS AS SET OUT IN THE 1960 TREATY OF GUARANTEE.

 

            HOWEVER, THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW ROUND OF TALKS SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE EFFORTS FOR LIFTING THE INHUMAN ISOLATION IMPOSED ON THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS. THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING ISOLATIONS IMPOSED ON THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE RANGE FROM DENYING THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION IN INTERNATIONAL FORA; TO PREVENTING OR RESTRICTING THEIR TRAVEL ABROAD AND THEIR COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD, AND TO HAMPERING ALL CULTURAL AND SPORTING RELATIONS OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES EVEN WITH TURKEY. THERE IS MORE NEED THAN EVER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO END THE TURKISH CYPRIOT ISOLATION AT A TIME WHEN EFFORTS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT CONTINUE, AS THIS WILL CERTAINLY MOTIVATE THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN,

 

            WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE ESTEMEED MEMBERS OF THE OIC FOR THE UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT EXTENDED TO THE JUST CAUSE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE THROUGH SUCCESSIVE OIC RESOLUTIONS AND DECLARATIONS. THESE RESOLUTIONS AND DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL’S COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT PLAN AND CALLED UPON THE MEMBER STATES TO STRENGTHEN EFFECTIVE SOLIDARITY WITH THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS. IN THIS CONTEXT, THEY URGE THE MEMBER STATES TO TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO END THE UNJUST AND INHUMAN ISOLATION OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS WITH A VIEW TO HELPING THEM MATERIALLY AND POLITICALLY. FURTHERMORE, THEY CALL UPON ALL MEMBER STATES TO FURTHER DEVELOP BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN ALL FIELDS SUCH AS DIRECT TRANSPORT, TRADE, TOURISM, CULTURE, EDUCATION, INFORMATION, INVESTMENT AND SPORTIVE CONTACTS AND IN THIS RESPECT, TO EXCHANGE HIGH-LEVEL VISITS WITH THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE.

 

            OUR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OUR OFFICES IN THE OIC MEMBER STATES AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF THOSE BROTHERLY OIC COUNTRIES FOR PERMITTING US TO OPEN OFFICES IN THEIR COUNTRIES. OF COURSE, WE EXPECT MORE MEMBER STATES TO ALLOW US FOR OPENING TRADE AND TOURISM OFFICES IN THEIR COUNTRIES.      IN THIS CONTEXT, IT SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN THAT THE OPENING OF SUCH REPRESENTATIONS IS NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE IN ALL ASPECTS THROUGH CONNECTING WITH THE REST OF THE OIC COUNTRIES AND FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PERSPECTIVE.

 

FURTHERMORE, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON ALL THE BROTHERLY MEMBER STATES TO MAKE ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS TO ENABLE THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE TO TRAVEL TO THE MEMBER STATES WITH TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY TURKISH CYPRIOT AUTHORITIES, WHICH IS ALLOWED BY MANY OIC AND WESTERN COUNTRIES.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN,

 

            THE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING OF THE “YOUTH FOR THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS” INITIATIVE DEVELOPED BY ISLAMIC CONFERENCE YOUTH FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION WAS HELD IN NORTH CYPRUS IN AUGUST 2007. A TRAINING WORKSHOP TITLED “EXPORT AUDITING AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE SMEs” WAS ORGANIZED JOINTLY BY MY MINISTRY AND THE ISLAMIC CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE IN APRIL 2008. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK HAS ALSO PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COVER PART OF THE COSTS OF THIS WORKSHOP. PARTICIPANTS FROM TURKEY, ALBANIA, AZERBAIJAN, BANGLADESH, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, JORDAN AND SYRIA ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP. BOTH EVENTS ENJOYED A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS AND WE ARE LOOKING TO HOST MORE SIMILAR OIC EVENTS IN OUR COUNTRY.

 

            IN THIS CONNECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE THAT ANOTHER IMPORTANT OIC EVENT, ENTITLED “TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD” IS GOING TO BE ORGANISED IN THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, IN OCTOBER 2008. TOURISM MINISTERS AND OTHER RELEVANT AUTHORITIES FROM THE BROTHERLY MEMBER STATES WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT FORUM. NORTH CYPRUS, BEING A PROMINENT HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, IS VERY EXPERIENCED IN TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE MEMBER STATES WILL VASTLY BENEFIT FROM THE DELIBERATIONS DURING THE FORUM.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN,

 

            I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ONCE AGAIN TO HIS EXCELLENCY YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI, THE PRESIDENT, HIS EXCELLENCY SAM KUTESA, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE BROTHERLY PEOPLE OF UGANDA FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND RECEPTION ACCORDED TO ME AND MY DELEGATION DURING OUR STAY IN UGANDA AND FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN MAKING THIS IMPORTANT CONFERENCE A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

 

            FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO RENEW OUR LONG-STANDING REQUEST AS WELL FOR UPGRADING OUR OBSERVER STATUS TO THAT OF A FULL MEMBER SO THAT WE MAY TAKE OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE, AS A FULL MEMBER, AMONG OUR BROTHERS.

 

            THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.