Hakan Fidan Addresses Cyprus Issue in Istanbul

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the Cyprus issue during his opening speech at the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

Mr. Fidan reiterated the rhetoric of two states in Cyprus and spoke of the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. Specifically, he stated that there are "two peoples and two states on the island of Cyprus" and that the "Turkish Cypriot state" is represented as an observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Furthermore, the Turkish Foreign Minister claimed that Turkish Cypriots "continue to live under the unjust and inhumane isolation imposed on them for decades" and called on the members of the organization to support their "inherent rights" and cooperate directly with them.

It is noted that the Turkish Cypriots have passports of the Republic of Cyprus and the Green Line Regulation allows international trade. Γ.Σ.