Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

The 36th Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference kicked off in Damascus yesterday.

In an opening speech, the OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu touched upon the Cyprus developments.

Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun is representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the conference which will continue until the 25th of May.

Mr Ozgurgun along with his accompanying delegation flew to the Syrian capital last night from Istanbul after completing his contacts in Turkey.

According to information released from the Foreign Ministry, Mr Ozgurgun will be addressing the foreign ministers’ meeting at the O.I.C today and will use this time to inform the participants of the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

He will also call for the removal of the unjust isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot People.

The minister is also expected to hold bilateral talks with foreign ministers of O.I.C member countries as well as the Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Ways to improve existing relations between member countries and the TRNC are expected to be discussed during the meetings.

Ozgurgun held his first bilateral meeting in Damascus with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

At the end of the OIC meting in Istanbul in 2004, it was decided that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would from then on attend the meetings of the O.I.C under the title of the ‘Turkish Cypriot State’.

Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun and his accompanying delegation are expected to return to the Republic on Tuesday after completing their contacts abroad.

Separately, in an interview to the Turkish TRT Channel before starting his contacts in Damascus, the Foreign Minister reiterated the ruling National Unity Party’s support to the maintenance of negotiations between the two sides.

Mr Ozgurgun however noted that there isn’t much progress achieved between Talat and Christofias so far and that there isn’t even any level of rapprochement reached between them on vital issues.

‘There are must-haves and red lines for the Turkish Cypriot side. But the Greek Cypriot side keeps bringing proposals to the negotiations table which are far away from these’ Ozgurgun told TRT.

On the opening of the Yesilirmak Gate for crossings, which has been a very controversial subject for Talat and Christofias in their round this week, Mr Ozgurgun said the opening of Yesilirmak carries great importance in terms of gaining free access at Erenkoy where people are only allowed to enter into the area by sea.

‘We own a positive approach towards the Yesilirmak opening’ he said.

Foreign Minister Ozgurgun also touched upon the belief that Turkish Cypriots might have the chance to promote the TRNC as an equal political partner in Cyprus.