OIC Secretary General completes his official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Date: 29/11/2011

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu completed his official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and left the Island on 29 November 2011. During his visit to TRNC, Secretary General Ihsanoglu was received by H.E. Dervis Eroglu, President, H.E. Dr. Hasan Bozer, Speaker of the Parliament, H.E. Dr. Irsen Kucuk, Prime Minister, and had bilateral meetings with H.E. Huseyin Ozgurgun, Foreign Minister and H.E. Kemal Durust, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. He also paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Rauf Denktas, former President of TRNC, as well as to H.E. Talip Atalay, Head of Religious Affairs of TRNC. During his meetings with the TRNC dignitaries, Ihsanoglu reiterated the enduring support of the OIC to the Turkish Cypriots in political, economic, social and cultural fields. Secretary General recalled that TRNC is an observer member of the OIC under the title of the Turkish Cypriot State. He referred to a number of Resolutions adopted by the OIC Council of Ministers, the last of which was adopted at the 38th meeting of the CFM held in Astana in June 2011. Ihsanoglu highlighted the position of the OIC supporting the good offices of the UN Secretary General on the settlement of the Cyprus issue with a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal structure based on the political equality of the two parties in the Island. He indicated his hope that the last rounds of negotiations between the two leaders which is envisaged to be held in January 2012 would reach to a satisfactory and lasting conclusion. However, he also underlined the fact that the negotiations should not be expected to continue indefinitely. Secretary General also indicated the OIC’s support to the Turkish Cypriot Government and its people through various projects, including in the fields of education and tourism. He also stressed the potential importance of the agro-food industry to contribute to the long-term socio-economic development of TRNC. Finally, Secretary General invited the President and the Foreign Minister of TRNC to visit the OIC Headquarters at an appropriate time in the near future.

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