LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu said on Friday that some member countries of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were preparing to recognize TRNC, but he did not want to tell the names of those countries as Greek Cypriot side could put pressure on them.
Ertugruloglu returned to TRNC after attending OIC meeting and holding bilateral meetings in the 58th General Assembly meeting of the United Nations.
Ertugruloglu emphasized that it was necessary to tell truths about Annan Plan and the European Union (EU). He blamed opposition for not doing this and for being collaborator of Greek Cypriots and Greeks. He criticized opposition harshly as they undertook the mission of eliminating TRNC.
Noting that there was no person who was against EU in TRNC, Ertugruloglu said that however there were big difficulties between EU and TRNC due to wrong policies of EU towards TRNC. He added that fighting against the mistakes of EU did not mean hostility towards EU.
Ertugruloglu emphasized that opposition in TRNC and some local newspapers in this perspective became very glad over the scandal broke out with the draft report prepared by OIC Secretary General Abdelouahed Belkeziz which was in favor of Greek Cypriots.
Noting that Belkeziz had an unusual attitude, Ertugruloglu said that both Turkey and TRNC gave the necessary response to Belkeziz. He added that Belkeziz hid the draft from everybody.
Emphasizing that recognition of TRNC by OIC was seriously on the agenda, Ertugruloglu said that it was out of question to stop this. He added that this issue was seriously on the agenda and thus, Greek Cypriot side attributed very much importance to OIC and did their best to prevent a decision to be taken.
(GC-AÖ) 03.10.2003