Turkish FM Urges Muslim Nations To End Isolation Of Turkish Cypriots

ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Abdullah Gül said on Monday OIC Summit that it is high time for international community to form direct economic, commercial, social and cultural ties with the Turkish Cyprus.
Speaking at the 31st Foreign Minister Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Gül recalled that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in his Cyprus report called on the world nations to cooperate to end the international isolations of the Turkish Cypriots. "It is high time for international community to engage in direct economic, commercial, social and cultural relations with the Turkish Cypriots.
The Cyprus report of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the UN Security Council has called for an end to the international isolation of Turkish Cyprus.
The Cyprus report, drafted by the UN Special Coordinator to Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto, praises the constructive attitude of the Turkish side who backed the UN peace plan to reunite the divided island and criticizes the uncompromising approach of the Greek Cypriot side which killed the plan by voting overwhelmingly against it in the April 24 referendum.
Gül stated that USA and the EU have been working on the initiatives to lift the isolations imposed the Turkish Cypriots. Foreign Minister Gül called on the Muslim nations to back Turkish Cypriot for ending the isolations.
In same meeting, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Abdelouahed Belkeziz called on OIC members to take appropriate steps in regards to Turkish Cyprus.
Cyprus has been divided in ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey took control of northern part of the island in response to Greece backed coup to unite island with Greece.
Internationally recognized Greek Cypriot side entered the EU on May 1 while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, only recognized by Turkey, left outside despite they heavily supported the UN peace plan.
Gül reminded in meeting that OIC Secretary General Belkeziz had visited Turkish side. Gül said that OIC Secretary General called on international community and Muslim nations to give aid to the Turkish Cypriots.
After the UN-backed Cyprus blueprint to unite the island failed at the April 24 referendum due to the rejection of the Greek Cypriots, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Abdelouahed Belkeziz paid an official visit to Turkish Cyprus for the first time in May. He signaled during the visit that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), which is currently only officially recognized by Turkey and has but observer status at the OIC, would be officially accepted as the Northern Turkish Cyprus State at the OIC foreign ministerial level meeting at Istanbul.