Turkish Presidential Office Expresses Hope That O.I.C. Decision On T.R.N.C. Will Constitute Important Step To End Embargoes And Isolation

ANKARA - Turkish Presidential Office expressed hope that the decision of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to accept Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with the name ''Turkish Cypriot State'' would constitute an important step to end embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriot people and end their isolation, Turkish Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Sermet Atacanli said on Friday.
Atacanli told a press briefing that the decision of OIC taken at the 31st Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul was a pleasing development.
Sermet Atacanli expressed Presidential Office's hope that this decision would end isolation, embargoes and loneliness of TRNC.
Atacanli considered election of Turkish candidate Prof. Eklemeddin Ihsanoglu as the new OIC Secretary General a pleasing development.
The 31st OIC Conference of Foreign Ministers was held in Istanbul between June 14 and 16.
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) 18.06.2004