FM GUL ANTICIPATES OIC SUPPORT FOR TURKISH CYPRUS
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman, Turkey
June 19 2006

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has anticipated that the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the body representing the
world’s Muslim countries, will endorse Turkey’s solution proposal
regarding the Cyprus problem.

Gul, who arrived in Baku on Monday to attend the OIC 33rd meeting of
foreign ministers, said that it was important to discuss the Cyprus
problem at the OIC meeting. "We have prepared a solution project. I
hope it will be accepted by the participating countries."

The content of the proposal is not known but the Turkish proposal is
expected to call on OIC members countries to open direct trade with
Turkish Cyprus, which remains under international sanctions.

At a 2004 meeting of the OIC foreign ministers, member countries had
reached an agreement to improve ties with the Turkish Cypriots after
they had voted in favor of the UN-sponsored peace plan in April of
that year.

Minister Gul came together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
on Monday on the sidelines of the meeting.

Regarding the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands of Upper
Karabag, Gul said that the OIC supports the Azerbaijani position.

"Occupied Azerbaijan lands should be returned to their Azerbaijani
owners."

Gul is expected to come together with Iranian counterpart Manucohr
Muttaki later today.

The 33rd foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic
Conference kicked off in the Azeri capital Baku on Monday.

The foreign ministers of 57 member countries, including Turkish Cyprus,
will take up regional problems including Israel-Palestine, Iraq and
Sudan and will discuss the reconstruction of the organization for
the coming ten years.

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