AVCI :”OIC MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBER STATES’ SUPPORT ARE IMPORTANT FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS  WHO LIVE UNDER UNJUST ISOLATION”

The Guinea Republic’s  Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning Ousmane Dore, who is having contacts in the TRNC as guest of the Deputy Prime Minister  and  Minister  of Foreign Affairs  Turgay Avcý was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Turgay Avcý yesterday.

Nabika Diallo, an advisor to the Organization of Islamic Conference General Secretary Ekmelettin Ihsanoglu, is accompanying the Guinean minister during his visit to the country.

Following his meeting with Turgay Avcý the  Guinean Minister  speaking to the press stated that  he visited the TRNC with a spirit of friendship and cooperation  and  expressed the hope that his visit  would be a starting point for the conduct  of a long term  relations between the two countries.

Avcý expressing his pleasure  for seeing  Dore in the TRNC said membership to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the member states’  support  were very important for Turkish Cypriots who have been living  under unjust isolation.

Avci said  that the TRNC would continue contacts with OIC member countries, adding that an initiative has been launched to improve bilateral ties between the two countries in various fields. He said  the cooperation between the two countries would further improve   with his  possible visit to Guinea in the near future.

On the Cyprus issue, the Foreign Minister stressed that the Turkish Cypriots were in favour of a  bi-zonnal  settlement  based on the  political equality of the two people, two  founding states  and the continuation of Turkish guarantee. Avcý also underlined that  although the Greek Cypriots  rejected a settlement in the Referenda  in 2004, the Turkish Cypriots  were still living  under unjust isolation.

Foreign Minister Avcý also drew attention to the fact that  bilateral relations between the OIC  countries and the TRNC  were increasingly continuing  and high ranking officials from the OIC countries  have started to visit the TRNC.

Avcý said  Dore’s visit to the TRNC was an indication of the support given by the OIC member states  towards lifting the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people and enabling the TRNC to take its rightful place among the international community.

Avcý said this visit was also important  for improving bilateral relations between the two countries especially in education sector and  for increasing the number of  Guinean students in the TRNC universities.

Avcý stating  that, as part of his contacts in North Cyprus, the Guinean Minister also had inspections at various universities, reminded that the TRNC was giving scholarships to developing Islamic countries. He added that within this framework around 10 Guinean students  are studying in the TRNC universities.

Avcý pointed out that the TRNC  has started to host various activities organized within the  OIC and  would host two  important organization this year first in April and second in October.