Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay has returned to the island following a successful one day visit to Jeddah, where he met with representatives of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Kudret Özersay went to Jeddah on the official invitation of the Secretary-General of the OIC and attended meetings with senior representatives.
Özersay and the Secretary-General of the OIC exchanged views on various issues, including developing relations with the OIC, at which the TRNC is an observer member under the title of “Turkish Cypriot State”.
A written statement on the OIC website states that Secretary-General El-Useymin and Özersay discussed existing relations between the TRNC and the OIC, and discussed further developing bilateral relations. The Secretary-General and Özersay also discussed developing relations between the TRNC and other OIC member states. Secretary-General El-Useymin further stated that Turkish Cypriots are an integral part of the Islamic world, and reiterated his support for a peaceful solution on the island.
While in Jeddah, Minister Özersay also met with the Executive Director of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Marghoob Saleem. Saleem spoke about the commission’s work, and Minister Özersay told Saleem about the isolations on Turkish Cypriots in all areas, adding that citizens are even prevented from participating in sporting, cultural and arts-based activities. Saleem emphasised that the IPHRC of the OIC closely follows the restrictions and isolations applied to Turkish Cypriots, and added that they are ready to cooperate on the issue.
Minister Özersay additionally met with Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Mansur Mukhtar. Özersay expressed his gratitude and thanked him for the support given by the bank to projects in the TRNC, especially in the fields of education and health. Özersay also provided information about ongoing and new projects. Mukhtar stated that this support and cooperation would continue, and would even be developed further.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay completed his contacts in Jeddah with a dinner given in his honour by the permanent mission of Turkey to the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation, Salih Mutlu Şen.
