TRNC's future lies in tourism, education and trade, says Turkish Cypriot President

GIRNE (A.A) - November 28, 2011 - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Dervis Eroglu said Monday that his country's future lied in tourism, education and trade. The "Forum and Exhibition on Higher Education Services in OIC Member States" began at the Acapulco Hotel in Turkish Cypriot city of Girne on Monday. Co-organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the forum is being attended by Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu, Turkey's Ambassador in Lefkosa Halil Ibrahim Akca, OIC Secretary General Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, representatives from many countries, Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, Turkish Cypriot Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Kemal Durust and many other Turkish Cypriot dignitaries. The forum will continue until Thursday. The forum began with an imam reading verses from the Holy Qur'an. During the three-day forum, experts in higher education from OIC member states will share their experiences. Speaking at the inauguration of the forum, President Eroglu said that they expected support from the OIC not just in the fields of higher education, economy and tourism but also politics as well. The success that the Turkish Cypriots have reached was made possible by their attachment to Islam and the Holy Qur'an and their faith in Allah, Eroglu said. The Cyprus issue could be solved in the first quarter of 2012. If not, the United Nations Secretary General must present an evaluation that can help us look ahead, Eroglu also said.