President Mustafa Akinci, speaking at the 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit Conference, held in Istanbul, called on the OIC member countries to influence the lifting of the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, during a time that efforts to solve the Cyprus problem have been intensified.
He went on and added that the greatest wish of the Turkish Cypriots is that in 2016, a solution can be reached, adding that this development will also bring peace and stability in the region. Akinci also stated that both he and President Nicos Anastasiades are two leaders from the same generation who are trying to find a solution in the Cyprus problem. “We know that that this is the last effort for re-unify our island. Our biggest wish and our main goal are to reach a solution in 2016”, he said.
Akinci also said that the Turkish Cypriots are looking for a solution that will safeguard the freedom, the equality and the security of the Turkish Cypriots who are one of the two partners in the island and added that the support of sister countries in this effort will be of great importance on their road towards a solution.
Akinci also voiced his pleasure at the decision given by the OIC that calls on all member countries to show solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots who are Muslims, to develop relations and by providing all kinds of support in a variety of fields to assist them in their integration with the world.
Touching upon the importance of implementing these decisions he said: “The time has come for Muslim countries to take concrete steps that will make the Turkish Cypriots a part of the global network and thus pioneering the international community towards this end”.
Akinci also said that the next months will be crucial for the negotiations and stated that the Turkish Cypriot side does not want the natural resources of the island to become a reason for tension between the two communities, but to become a facilitator that will safeguard peace and stability. He also said that unilateral attempts to exploit hydrocarbons offshore Cyprus that can harm the negotiations, are wrongheaded.
Kibris Postasi