ECONOMIC COOPERATION
PROTOCOL SIGNED BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE TRNC
Within the framework of the Economic
Cooperation Protocol signed last year between Turkey and the TRNC, a new
declaration was signed between the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of State Abdullatif Sener and TRNC Minister of Economy and
Tourism Enver Ozturk with a ceremony in Lefkosa.
The new declaration includes
restructuring and economic support for sustainable development in the
TRNC for the period between 2007 and 2009. According to the information
given by Sener, who is also responsible for Cyprus affairs, “600
trillion TL will be given for the year 2007. 40 trillion TL will be
given for encouragement allowances for various investments. These are
allowances given to private enterprises. The remaining 560 trillion TL
will be the source directly used by the government to finance its works”.
Speaking during the signing ceremony
of the agreement, Sener pointed out that in the last 5 years TRNC had
achieved a big economic development and the aim was to make this
development permanent and sustainable.
Reminding that the TRNC had been kept
under isolation because of the world’s different point of view, Sener
said the TRNC was prevented from using its performance effectively,
however the its economy had reached to very high levels as a result of
the multi-functional relations established between Turkey and the TRNC.
He added that the world was watching this in astonishment.
Stating that in the EU process, Turkey
and the TRNC had clearly put forward their stance Sener said: “We are
working with determination to change the EU’s negative attitude”.
Drawing attention to the fact that the
promises given before the 2004 referendum had not yet been kept, Sener
said the promises were manipulated within the framework of Greek Cypriot
views.
Sener also pointed out that the per
capita income had been increased by %68 in the last 5 years in the TRNC.
Sener explained that the per capita
income in the TRNC, which was 4,400 US Dollars in 2002, had increased to
11,800 US Dollars today.
Referring to the 259 million EURO aid
to be made by the EU to the TRNC, Sener said there had been arguments on
giving this amount for three years and added: “However, Turkey gives 400
million US Dollars from its annual budget to the TRNC to contribute to
its welfare level and ease the negative effects of the embargoes.”
For his part, Enver Ozturk pointed out
that the main aim of the declaration was to achieve an economic
structure, which would produce in line with EU standards and fairly
share its income and to set up a state structure which would adopt
participatory democracy and the rule of law.
8 JULY PROCESS TO RESTART
PERTEV AND CONIS WILL MEET TODAY
8 July process, which was broken off,
is going to resume today (5 April).
Presidential Undersecretary Rasit
Pertev and the Greek Cypriot Presidency’s Director of Diplomatic Office
Tassos Tzonis are going to meet under the supervision of the UN
Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller.
Speaking to Cyprus Turkish News Agency
(TAK) Rasit Pertev stated that the Turkish Cypriot side had conveyed its
re-evaluation document to the UN and would restart the negotiations.
Explaining that while evaluating the
Turkish Cypriot side’s stance towards the 8 July process, they discussed
with both the government officials and the political party
representatives in the Parliament, Pertev said: “Turkish Cypriot side
has put forward its position and the areas which are matter of concern
for it. We have completed the evaluation process with a letter and the
process would restart today.”
Stressing that the process should be
more serious and efficient, Pertev said the Turkish Cypriot side would
work to make this process more efficient and positive.
