OIC Head Welcomes Cypriot Leaders' Decision To Start Comprehensive Talks

ANKARA - The secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) welcomed Monday the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders` decision to start comprehensive talks in Cyprus.
"OIC SG Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the recent decision of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders to commence comprehensive direct negotiations on September 3rd 2008, under the UN auspices, to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus question," OIC said in a written statement.
"The OIC SG stated that his organization has always been in favour of dialogue between the two sides of Cyprus for reaching an equitable settlement based on the political equality of the two peoples of the island," the statement added.
The statement also said that Ihsanoglu reiterated OIC`s full support to the good-will mission of the UN SG Ban Ki-moon to achieve a peaceful and mutually acceptable settlement in the island.
(DO-AÖ)
DIP)