ANKARA - Turkey had launched initiatives to upgrade the level of representation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Turkish diplomatic sources said on Friday.
Diplomatic sources said that Turkish delegation had searched for support to upgrade TRNC's level of representation in OIC during the Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in Irish capital Dublin.
The same sources noted that Turkey would continue such efforts in the OIC high-level officials meeting expected to be held in Jeddah between May 8 and 9.
Turkish diplomatic sources stated that Turkish delegation which would join that meeting would ask representatives of other participating countries to extend assistance.
Noting that it was not possible for TRNC to become a full member of the OIC as a requirement of the status, the same sources said that they wanted TRNC to be given the highest status that could be granted in the organization and they also wanted the organization to upgrade TRNC's level of representation.
The same sources said that Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had told representatives of Arab and Muslim countries in the Mediterranean to assist Turkey in its efforts in the OIC regarding TRNC since those countries were sisters of Turkey.
Gul received very positive reactions about Cyprus issue in EUROMED meeting in Dublin, the same sources stressed.
The same sources said that words of Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem were very striking.
Belkhadem had said that ''rejection of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem by the Greek Cypriots caused disappointment'' Noting that settlement of this problem would have positive impact on the entire region, Belkhadem had said that ''a significant opportunity had been missed.''
(BRC- 07.05.2004