JEDDAH, 24 January 2007 — Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which holds an observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), seeks to establish stronger political and business relations with Saudi Arabia, according to Dr. Turgay Avci, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the Mediterranean island state.

“We would like to establish a representative office in Riyadh and a trade and tourism office in Jeddah very soon,” the deputy premier said while talking to reporters after a meeting with Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali, president of the Islamic Development Bank and Saudi entrepreneurs in Jeddah yesterday.

Avci said he would visit the Kingdom again next month to attend the Jeddah Economic Forum and establish contacts with Saudi authorities to open the representative offices. “We are planning to set up 10 similar offices in Muslim countries this year as part of our efforts to strengthen relations with OIC member states,” he added.

Addressing a luncheon meeting hosted by him in honor of Avci and his delegation, the IDB chief pledged his bank’s support for Northern Cyprus as well as its readiness to finance trade deals between TRNC and Saudi Arabia and other OIC member countries. “We look forward to an active and constructive relationship between the IDB and Northern Cyprus.”

Mohamed Ali said his bank would give a grant of $100,000 to organize an international conference on environment protection in Northern Cyprus. He said an IDB delegation would attend the conference scheduled for Feb. 19-24, 2007.

“The IDB is ready to encourage the private sector in its member countries to strengthen cooperation with businessmen in Northern Cyprus, especially in the areas of investment and trade exchange,” he told the gathering, which was attended by a number of Saudi businessmen and women. IDB has so far provided financial assistance and grants worth $2.6 million to Muslim communities in Northern Cyprus in addition to eight scholarships to its Muslim students.

In his speech, Avci said TRNC was demanding equal rights with Greek Cyprus, especially in exporting its agricultural and industrial products directly to other countries. “Northern Cyprus is located in a strategic position between the Middle East and the Western world, offering good prospects for trade, tourism and investment,” he pointed out. The deputy premier thanked IDB for its financial support to educational projects of the Muslim community in his country. “We would like to strengthen our relations with IDB and expect the bank’s support for our development projects, especially in the areas of health, housing and environment protection,” he said.