LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas expressed on Thursday pleasure to return to his country after the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) accepted TRNC as the ''Turkish Cypriot State'' in its Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, Turkey.
Denktas, who returned from Turkey to TRNC, told reporters that TRNC would no more attend OIC meetings as the representative of Muslim society in Cyprus.
TRNC did not end but its name in OIC was set as ''Turkish Cypriot State'' at the OIC Conference held in Turkey, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that this title was foreseen in United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and raised morale of his country.
TRNC Foreign Minister Denktas said that he had received official invitations from six countries and invited representatives of some countries to TRNC, adding that these visits would be paid in coming days.
Opening representations of some countries in TRNC and TRNC's opening representations in some countries were discussed during his meetings, Denktas pointed out.
Recalling that the Greek Cypriot side worked hard to prevent OIC from giving TRNC the title of ''Turkish Cypriot State'' in its Istanbul conference, Denktas said that it could not achieve its intentions and the decision on new title of TRNC was adopted unanimously.
Denktas said that solution visions had not changed, but Turkish Cypriots could not wait for the Greek Cypriots till eternity.
Participants of the 31st Session of the Islamic Conference of the Foreign Ministers of OIC decided on Wednesday that TRNC would be represented at the OIC under the name of ''Turkish Cypriot State'' as it was envisaged in the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
The joint communique of the conference, said, ''the member countries decide that the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus should continue to participate in the work, activities and meetings of all OIC organs under the name envisaged by the United Nations Secretary General's settlement plan.''
The joint communique urged the member states to strengthen effective solidarity with the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus closely associating with them, and with a view to helping them materially and politically to overcome the inhuman isolation which has been imposed upon them, to increase and expand their relations in all fields and in particular direct transport, trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports contacts.
However, the OIC decided to remain seized of the request of the Turkish Cypriot side of Cyprus for full membership of the OIC.
(BRC-AÖ) 17.06.2004