TURKISH CYPRIOT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVALUATED GREEK CYPRIOT PROPOSALS : “ONLY SERVE TO MISLEAD EU AND THE WORLD”

Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce in a written statement issued yesterday (23 May) pointed out that the Greek Cypriot administration’s additional economic proposals for Turkish Cypriot people, only serve to mislead mainly the EU and the world. It was stated that any proposal directed towards assimilating the North Cyprus’ economy into South’s economy would not be accepted.

The statement stressed that the announced additional proposals for Turkish Cypriot people and the businessmen were aimed at making them more dependent to the Greek Cypriot economy, and to spread the Greek Cypriot authority onto Turkish Cypriot people.

It was also pointed out that economic parity and equality between the two sides was necessary for achieving a just and permanent solution however, the Direct Trade Regulation was not implemented because of Greek Cypriot preventions and the initiatives on education and tourism sectors were also frustrated by Greek Cypriots.

The statement said:

“While the Greek Cypriots are determined to continue to impose isolation and restrictions on Turkish Cypriots, prevent all types of Turkish Cypriot initiatives and steps taken towards integrating with the world and contributing economic development and unification of the island, we believe these additional proposals are new tricks only for show purposes and to gain time.

The Greek Cypriot administration should first of all stop preventing the Turkish Cypriot people from exporting his own products to the Europe and to the world from Turkish Cypriot harbours.

The Greek Cypriot administration should also stop preventing the Turkish Cypriot universities and students from being integrated into the Bologna process, prepare the necessary conditions for Turkish Cypriots to promote and advertise their products to sell to South Cyprus more easily, decrease the negative psychological effects on Greek Cypriot consumers, make necessary regulations for marketing the products imported from the customs union by Turkish Cypriots to South Cyprus, to increase 135 Euro limit for goods contained in the personal luggage of persons crossing the line from South Cyprus to North, and not to treat our Greek Cypriot and foreign visitors who make sopping in the TRNC as criminals.”