FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “NEGOTIATION PROCESS SHOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE EFFORTS TOWARDS LIFTING THE ISOLATION”

The workshop entitled “Export Auditing and Capacity Building in the SMEs” organized by the Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT) has started in the Near East University.

The workshop will be attended by experts from the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and will end on Friday (25 April).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý, General Director of ICDT Allal Rachdi, Director of the International Relations Department of the Near East University Dr. Tayseer Al-Shanableh and the Chairman of ICDT Study and Education Departments Dr. El Hassane Hzaine delivered speeches.

Following is the speech delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý:

MR. FOUNDING PRESIDENT,

MR. DIRECTOR-GENERAL,

DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS,

DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENTS AND ACADEMICIANS,

DEAR GUESTS AND STUDENTS,

            IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BID YOU A WARM WELCOME TO THE WORKSHOP ENTITLED “EXPORT AUDITING AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE SMEs ORGANIZED JOINTLY BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS (TRNC) AND THE ISLAMIC CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE (ICDT), A SUBSIDIARY ORGAN OF THE ORGANISATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC). IT IS INDEED AN HONOUR FOR US TO HOST THIS IMPORTANT OIC ACTIVITY IN OUR COUNTRY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION AND I WISH EACH AND ALL OF YOU A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND BENEFICIAL WORKSHOP.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS TRAINING PROGRAMME WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS WILL PROVE TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS UNDER THE ABLE GUIDANCE OF OUR MODERATORS AND LECTURERS AS WELL AS THE COMMON RESOLVE OF ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, AND THE WORKSHOP WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS THAT WOULD BEAR IMPORTANT OUTCOMES FOR THE BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS IN GENERAL AND THE smes, OPERATIONS IN PARTICULAR, IN THE MUSLIM WORLD.

            I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE ONCE AGAIN THAT, IT IS A DISTINCT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE FOR US TO HOST SUCH AN IMPORTANT MEETING HERE IN THE TRNC. IN THIS CONNECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS AND DEEP APPRECIATION TO H.E. MR. ALLAL RACHDI, THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ISLAMIC CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND HIS ABLE STAFF FOR MAKING EVERY POSSIBLE ENDEAVOUR FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS OUR DISTINGUISHED LECTURERS, WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE THIS WORKSHOP A GREAT SUCCESS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO H.E. DR. AHMED MOHAMED ALI, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HE HAD EXTENDED TO US TO COVER PART OF THE COSTS OF THIS WORKSHOP. FURTHERMORE, OUR THANKS GO TO THE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE BROTHERLY MEMBER STATES OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY, REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH, HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN AND SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC FOR ATTENDING THIS IMPORTANT WORKSHOP. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. SUAT GÜNSEL, THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF THE NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY, WHO HAS BROKEN NEW GROUND IN THE TRNC ECONOMY WITH HIS IMPRESSIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS FOR KINDLY ACCEPTING TO HOLD THIS MEANINGFUL EVENT IN THE UNIVERSITY AND PROVIDING THE NECESSARY LOGISTICS IN THE CAMPUS.

            AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEF YOU ON THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE.

WE ARE EMBARKING ON A NEW PROCESS WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE WITH A VIEW TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT. WITHIN THIS PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD LIKE TO RENEW THE FIRM STANCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE 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 CONSTITUENT STATES AND THE 1960 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENT AS SET OUT IN THE 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 CYPRIOT PEOPLE. LIFTING THE ISOLATION WILL NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE THE BOTH SIDES TO NEGOTIATE GENUINELY AND REACH A SETTLEMENT BUT ALSO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE AGAINST THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR RESOLUTIONS ON THE SITUATION IN CYPRUS ADOPTED AT THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCES.  THESE RESOLUTIONS URGE THE MEMBER STATES TO TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO END THE UNJUST AND INHUMAN ISOLATION OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, HOSTING OIC EVENTS IN THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS IS IN LINE WITH THE RELEVANT OIC RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON CYPRUS WHICH ARE AIMED AT HELPING TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES ENDURED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS WORKSHOP WILL PROVE TO BE AN INVALUABLE EVENT IN RESPECT OF STRENGTHENING THE SOLIDARITY AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS AND THE BROTHERLY MEMBER STATES OF THE OIC AS WELL AS PROVIDING ALL THE TRAINEES WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND CAPABILITIES FOR EXPORT AUDITING AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE smes.

DESPITE BEING A SMALL STATE, THE TRNC WOULD LIKE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE WITHIN THE OIC AND ITS AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS. IN THIS CONNECTION, THE TRNC WILL CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN OIC MEETINGS AS WELL AS HOSTING OIC MEETINGS WITH A VIEW TO FURTHER STRENGTHENING SOLIDARITY WITH THE MEMBER STATES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACTIVITES OF THE OIC. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT NORTH CYPRUS IS SITUATED IN A STRATEGIC LOCATION TO ACT AS A BRIDGE AND A VITAL CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST, AND OUR COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITHIN THIS CONTEXT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL MEMBER STATES WITH FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE TRNC HOSTED AN OIC EVENT, THE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING OF THE “YOUTH FOR THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS” INITIATIVE DEVELOPED BY ISLAMIC CONFERENCE YOUTH FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION LAST YEAR. THAT EVENT HAS PROVED TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS AND I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THE WORKSHOP WHICH IS STARTING TODAY WOULD ENJOY AS MUCH SUCCESS.

            IN THIS AGE OF GLOBALISATION, WHERE THE PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE STATES HAVE BEEN DISAPPEARING AT AN UNPRECEDENTED PACE, THE smes PLAY A VERY CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUSTAINING A HEALTHY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTRIES. THE TRNC GIVES SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE smes. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ADOPTING SPECIAL MEASURES, INCLUDING FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF THE smes, NOT ONLY TO INCREASE THE SHEER NUMBER OF THE smes, BUT ALSO PREPARING THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENT FOR REACHING THE NECESSARY STANDARDS THAT WOULD ENABLE THEM TO COMPETE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT IS A MUST IF WE ARE TO REACH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NOT ONLY IN THE TRNC BUT OVERALL IN THE WHOLE MUSLIM WORLD.

            THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF RELEVANT GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND CHAMBERS IS VERY CRUCIAL IF THE smes OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD ARE TO REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL TO COMPETE WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE WORLD. THEREFORE, SPECIAL EMPHASIS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EDUCATING AND TRAINING OF OUR RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS TO ENABLE THEM TO FURNISH THE smes WITH ALL THE CAPABILITIES AS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITIES TO A SATISFACTORY LEVEL AND ENABLE THEM TO COMPETE IN THE EXPORT-ORIENTED WORLD ECONOMY WHICH WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY.

            IT IS VITAL THAT WE, THE ISLAMIC UMMAH, CREATE SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOW-HOWS OF THOSE SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM COUNTRIES IS SHARED THROUGHOUT THE ISLAMIC WORLD. WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT ECONOMY WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS PARTICULAR EVENT AND FUTURE SIMILAR EVENTS WOULD LAY THE FOUNDATIONS TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE.

            BEFORE I CONCLUDE I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS ONCE AGAIN OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE OIC AND ITS ORGANS, THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND ALL THE OTHER BROTHERLY OIC MEMBER STATES FOR THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT EXTENDED TO THE JUST CAUSE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE.

I WELCOME YOU ONCE AGAIN AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL ENJOY YOUR STAY IN OUR COUNTRY.

            THANK YOU.

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI RECEIVES TRNC HONORARY REPRESENTATIVE IN SYDNEY

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý yesterday (21 April) received the TRNC’s Honorary Representative in Sydney Ýlkay Yusuf who is currently in the TRNC.

Speaking during the meeting Foreign Minister Avcý stated that they would improve cooperation with and give the necessary support to the Turkish Cypriots living in Australia with the aim of helping them to be better organized.

Stressing that his recent visit to Australia was a historic one, Foreign Minister Avcý said for 30 years none of the ministries in the TRNC have visited Australia and added that they would continue to extend their hand to every country where there are Turkish Cypriots.

Explaining that following his visit to Australia studies have been started for providing easier and faster information for Turkish Cypriots living in Australia on the new laws with regard to the exporting some TRNC products to Australia, citizenship, inheritance, property and national service. Avcý added that during his visit to Australia they also had contacts with Australian officials towards opening a TRNC representative office in the capital Canberra.