LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) received on Friday Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim who came to the TRNC on a private visit.
Speaking at the meeting, Denktas said that every visit of ministers from Turkey inspired them with hope and gave them strength and confidence.
Denktas said that very good achievements had been recorded in cooperation with the Transportation Ministry through support of Turkey.
''Now I give priority to cleaning of the Girne port. There are sunken boats at the port and more others which have not been used for years by their owners are still at the port. Other yachts can find place at the port if those boats are removed. Cleaning of this port is very important,'' the TRNC President said.
Meanwhile, Yildirim said that it was the 29th anniversary of foundation of Turkish Cypriot Airlines the day before and he had attended a ceremony and he would attend opening of a laboratory at the Near East University Maritime Faculty.
Stressing that Turkey had always stood by Turkish Cypriot people and would continue to do so, Yildirim said that there would be intense days in the new period started with the new TRNC government.
When a reporter asked whether he would attend opening of Ercan Airport, Yildirim said, ''I assigned a delegation about Girne port and they finished etudes. We will take the results onto our agenda. Several additional renovation works at the Ercan airport have been continuing. I suppose that they would finish soon. Our support to the TRNC in every field will continue, of course.''
''We have also given the start for the coast radio work which is important in maritime. We solved the problems about air corridors with Greece. We have lifted very important restrictions in the west FIR. Our cooperation will continue,'' he said.
Transportation Minister Yildirim who will visit TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to return to Turkey later in the day.
(MS) 16.01.2004