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  • BAKU: Northern Cyprus gives warm welcome to Azeris

    Northern Cyprus gives warm welcome to Azeris

    AzerNews, Azerbaijan
    Aug 4 2005

    80 Azerbaijani businessmen and journalists arrived in the
    non-recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) last
    Wednesday on a first direct flight from a foreign country to the
    Turkish-populated part of the ethnically divided island over the
    last 31 years. Citizens of Northern Cyprus welcomed the Azeri
    representatives with tears in their eyes,

    AzerNEWS correspondent reported from the TRNC capital Lefkosha.
    Chairman of the Union of Azerbaijani and Turkish Businessmen Ahmet
    Erentok heading the delegation told journalists upon arrival that the
    landing of an Azerbaijani airplane at the Ercan Airport of Cyprus is
    of great importance.

    Economic relations between Azerbaijan and TRNC and investment
    opportunities in the country, which faces international isolation, were
    discussed during the three-day visit. The two countries' businessmen
    signed two agreements on cooperation in conclusion of a business
    forum on Friday, covering trade and banking. The participants also
    discussed ways of collaborating in the area of tourism, construction
    and agriculture.

    'One nation-three states' UATB chairman Erentok said that Azerbaijan
    and Turkey have been referred to as 'one nation-two states' so
    far. "But from now on, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Northern Cyprus should
    be called 'one nation-three states', he said during the businessmen's
    meeting with the national leader, ex-president of Northern Cyprus
    Rauf Denktas on Friday.

    Denktas called the opening of the Baku-Lefkosha flight as a significant
    event for Northern Cyprus, saying that Azerbaijan should be considered
    a model for other countries.

    "Like the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, the Northern Cyprus is
    still under occupation. The Greek community of Southern Cyprus is
    not willing to unite with the Turkish community of Cyprus within a
    federation and is trying to keep the entire Cyprus under its control.

    But they won't succeed in this. TRNC exists and will continue to
    exist."

    Erentok underlined that UATB will further work to develop relations
    between Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus.

    In conclusion of the meeting, Denktas was elected honorary member
    of UATB.

    Denktas and his son Serdar Denktas, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
    Minister, will visit Baku on August 15.

    Serdar Denktas told the AzerNEWS correspondent in Lefkosha that the
    goal of the three-day visit is to extend gratitude to President Ilham
    Aliyev for the recent opening of a direct flight from Azerbaijan to
    the TRNC.

    Flights 'will end blockade' The opening of flights from Azerbaijan
    to the Northern Cyprus is the start of extricating the republic from
    blockade, TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat told ANS TV channel.

    Talat said the flights between the two countries mean the 'end of
    a blockade'. He recalled that only Turkish aircraft have landed at
    the Ercan Airport located in the northern part of Cyprus so far,
    expressing confidence that the flights from Azerbaijan to his country
    will provide suitable conditions for other countries to carry out
    flights to Northern Cyprus as well.

    Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, in an interview with local
    Trend news agency, regarded Azerbaijan's decision to open flights
    as 'courageous'. "Some countries wanted to take this step before,
    but subsequently backed away from it on fears of pressures from the
    international community and Greek Cyprus", he said.

    Diplomatic tensions Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has
    condemned the Azerbaijani businessmen's visit. "Opening flights to
    Northern Cyprus is unacceptable", Turkish NTV channel quoted him
    as saying.

    Papadopoulos said he has forwarded a letter expressing his objection
    to President Ilham Aliyev. "The leadership of Greek Cyprus has decided
    to take active steps to prevent such flights. We have filed a complaint
    to the International Civil Aviation Organization", the document says.

    Papadopoulos said he is disappointed with the fact that Azerbaijan
    became the first country to forge ties with Northern Cyprus and vowed
    to do his utmost to prevent other countries from establishing relations
    with TRNC.

    Azerbaijan has advised not to seek any political motives behind the
    establishment of business ties with TRNC. The visit was organized
    not by the government but by private companies, said Foreign Ministry
    official Tahir Taghizada. "The opening of a flight to Northern Cyprus
    should not be politicized or seen as a change in official Baku's
    foreign policy", he said.

    Informal reports say that Greece has threatened to open a flight to
    Upper Garabagh in response to Azerbaijan's decision to start direct
    flights from Baku to Lefkosha.

    A presidential administration official has said that Azerbaijan's
    plans to forge ties with TRNC should not perturb anyone. The country
    will continue working in this direction. "These steps are aimed at
    preventing isolation of Cyprus Turks from the international community",
    said head of the President's Office international relations department
    Novruz Mammadov.

    President Ilham Aliyev said in a recent meeting with Turkish Minister
    for Defense Vecdi Gonul in Baku that Azerbaijan will take 'important
    steps' to help Northern Cyprus come out of isolation.

    The statement follows the President's earlier promise to support
    Northern Cyprus and ensure investments in the republic.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan said during his visit
    to Russia that Baku's recent steps 'de facto imply recognition of
    the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'. "I hope that Azerbaijan's
    policy in this area will continue", he said.
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