LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas on Friday received Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Abdul Wahed Belqeziz.
Denktas and Belqeziz held a joint news conference following their meeting which lasted for half an hour.
Speaking at the joint news conference, Denktas said Turkish Cypriot people which the world isolated for 40 years, is an inseparable part of Islam world.
Denktas said, ''this visit of OIC Secretary General to TRNC is an honor for us. I thank him on for myself and on behalf of TRNC people.''
Denktas said Belqeziz would see the presence of Turkish Cypriot people which the world tried to hide, and that it was 21 years old, and that TRNC existed with all its institutions.
''If Belqeziz' schedule is appropriate, his visit to mass graves will please the families of martyrs,'' Denktas stated.
Stressing that solution of Cyprus question only depended on equal treatment of the two sides, Denktas said, ''so that Greek Cypriot side will realize that it can not take Cyprus. Recent twin referendum showed presence of two peoples having the right of self determination to determine future of Cyprus.''
Denktas said, ''we request the Secretary General to announce his assessments in Cyprus to Islam world.''
OIC Secretary General Belqeziz said a new situation was formed after the referendum in Cyprus, and stated that his visit to TRNC was a part of this new situation.
Belqeziz thanked Denktas and TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat because they gave him the opportunity to see the situation in Cyprus.
Belqeziz said the referendum on April 24 showed how Moslem Turkish Cypriot people acted together with the international platforms.
Belqeziz said they welcomed ''yes'' vote of the TRNC to Annan Plan and noted that during the OIC meeting held in Jeddah a month ago considered what the Turkish Cypriots revealed by voting ''yes'' in the referendum. He said the draft resolution prepared in Jeddah would be taken up in the OIC foreign ministers meeting scheduled to take place on June 14 in Istanbul.
Belqeziz said they accepted that a new situation was in question after the referendum, and that OIC would evaluate this new situation with new views and proposals.
Underlining that his visit to TRNC was a part of this new situation, Belqeziz said positive views were revealed during his meetings with Denktas and Talat.
(AY-AÖ) 28.05.2004