LEFKOSA (CIHAN) - The Turkish State Minister said on Wednesday that Turkey's support for Turkish Cyprus will continue indefinitely and he foresees no problems.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener met with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's (KKTC) President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
Talat said that the visit of the Turkish minister is crucial as the Cyprus conflict has now entered the new era. The Turkish Cypriot Minister said that Turkey is a gate for Turkish Cypriots to reach the international community. Talat said that with the help of Turkey, his country is trying to overcome the unjust embargo imposed on it.
The Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister said that the strong relations between the Turkish Cyprus and Turkey will continue even after the Cyprus issue is resolved.
Sener on the other hand said that the negative outlook on Turkish Cyprus changed to a positive one with the April 24 referendum on the UN peace plan. Sener said that the ongoing cooperation between Turkey and KKTC will continue indefinitely.
KKTC President Rauf Denktas also received the Turkish State Minister today. Denktas said that promises given to the Turkish Cypriots by the international community should be fulfilled.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey took control of the northern part of the island in response to a Greek coup that hoped to unite island with Greece.
Internationally recognized Greek Cyprus entered the EU on May 1 while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, was left out despite its heavy support for the UN peace plan.
Hopes to reunify the long-divided Mediterranean island before its May 1 entry into the European Union faded when Greek Cypriots voted heavily against the UN peace deal in the April 24 referendum despite the support of 65% of Turkish Cypriots for the plan.