TRNC Public Information Office

FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI TO GO TO AUSTRALIA
GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION’ ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE AVCI’S VISIT

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı will leave the TRNC tomorrow (15 February) to go to Australia. During his stay in Australia, Foreign Minister Avcı will attend the ceremonies to be held for the 60^th anniversary of the Turkish Cypriots’ migration to Australia on 17 February and hold various contacts.

Meanwhile, it has been noted that the Greek Cypriot administration was trying to prevent and sabotage this visit.

Greek Cypriot High Commissioner in Australia Filippos Kritiotis in his letter dated 8 February 2008, sent to Australian authorities requested them not to attend the said ceremonies where Foreign Minister Avcı would be present.

Evaluating such attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to prevent Foreign Minister Avcı’s visit to Australia, Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement pointed out that the Ministry’s successful openings towards various countries have been panicking the Greek Cypriot administration especially the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Mrs. Markoulli and within this framework the Greek Cypriot administration was knocking on every country’s door.

Pointing to the fact that the resumption of the ferryboat services between Gazimagusa and Latakia ports has humiliated Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Markoulli in front of the Greek Cypriot people, the statement said the Greek Cypriot administration was now trying to prevent and sabotage Foreign Minister Avcı’s visit to Australia.

The Ministry’s statement drew attention to the Greek Cypriot High Commissioner Kritiotis’ letter which included well-known baseless and indecent allegations of the Greek Cypriot side and his suggestions to Australian authorities not to attend the said ceremonies.

The statement noted that the Ministry believes that the Turkish Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot institutions in Australia who have been prepared and organized various events for Foreign Minister Avcı’s visit, would paralyze these indecent Greek Cypriot initiatives and give the necessary response to the Greek Cypriot administration.