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[halil]

EU should keep its promises
The Austrian Ambassador to Nicosia, Eva Hager, and Commercial Attaché Bruno Freytag were visiting the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) when Sua Saracoglu Chamber Chairman said that the EU has to keep the promises it made to the Turkish Cypriots while they are working for the solution. He emphasised that putting the Direct Trade Regulations into practice was the EU’s primary promise and said that this implementation was the most important part that would then complete the Financial Aid Package and Green Line Regulations. According to information from KTTO, the Chairman also suggested some amendments to be made to the Green Line Regulations and some arrangements that would contribute to the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots in accordance with the spirit of the regulations.

Amendments to Regulations

Saracoglu said that the products covered by the Customs Union should be allowed to be sent to Northern Cyprus via the Green Line and remarked that this implementation would not be against the goods circulation in the EU and would contribute to the Turkish Cypriot economy. The problems concerning the movement of loaded vehicles from North to South should be solved, he suggested as these obstacles caused unfair competition against Turkish Cypriot vehicle owners. He emphasised that the EU should take the initiative. The KTTO Chairman explained that animal products were not included in the trading via the Green Line and emphasised that the necessary steps should be taken to include these products as well as allowing the implementation of the regulations designed to cover fish and other animal products. Saracoglu remarked that the Green Line Regulations have so far only been implemented via road and requested that products and people that are allowed to be transferred from the North to the South via roads should be allowed to be transferred by sea. With these changes he said small yachts, ships and boats made in the North could be sold in the South in accordance with the spirit of the rules.
In the speech that Austrian Ambassador Eva Hager made during her visit she said that they had for a long time been following the successful efforts by the Chamber, that they have recorded their positive suggestions carefully and were thinking that Turkish Cypriots should be supported in the solution and the EU process. She emphasised that Turkish Cypriots should continue to focus on the EU process and wished for the maintenance of their positive dialogue with the Chamber.

[paliometoxo]

And turkey should stop ignoring laws telling them to remove troops but turkey doesent seem tocare to listen, why should eu help an illigale state so trnc can turn round and stop peace talks once there is direct trade, turks stopbitching about a situation u put yourselfs in

[halil]

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONVEYS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT

The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce conveyed its recommendations regarding the Direct Trade, Financial Aid and Green Line Regulations to EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.
In a letter to the Commissioner, the Chamber highlighted the fact that the efficiency of the Green Line and Financial Aid Regulations, which are currently in force, is substantially reduced without the Direct Trade Regulation which has still not been adopted by the European Council since 2004.

The Chamber stressed that the delay in the adoption of the Regulation was slowing down the development of the Turkish Cypriot economy, which is the main objective of the regulations.

It proposed the expansion of the Green Line Regulation to allow sale of goods originating from Customs Union countries to South Cyprus over the Green Line.

Currently the Regulation only allows the trade of goods produced in North Cyprus.

Another recommendation put forward by KTTO concerned animal products. It proposed that the approach adopted by the EU to enable the trade of fresh fish under the Regulation is extended to all animal products which comply with the EU standards.

The Chamber’s letter also called for steps taken towards the facilitation of border-crossings of commercial vehicles in the same manner as they are done in the case of salon vehicles, which it believes will greatly increase the intra-island trade.

Furthermore, it proposed new arrangements in the Green Line Regulation to enable crossings and trade via the sea.

If this is achieved, crossing points will be expanded to cover ports as well. This will also enable the crossing and trade of boats and vessels produced in the North to the South.

The Chamber conveyed its support and content to the projects introduced under the implementation of the Financial Aid Regulation; however, indicated that the projects needed to focus more on the technical and technological development of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in order for the Financial Aid Regulation to bring sustainable long-term results.

Another recommendation put forward to Commissioner Rehn by KTTO said the Turkish Cypriot SMEs’ participation in EU projects should not be restricted only to those under Directorate-General for Enlargement but should be equally extended to various projects in other relevant Directorates.

[boulio]

biggest mistake t/c(turkey)made was not opening famagusta to direct trade in return for a ghost town.all sides would have won,t/c get to trade,g/c get back varoshia,turkey great PR move in the worlds eyes.cyprus,both sides would trade and run the port under the EU and would set the foundation for cooperation between the communites.

[Kikapu]

Turkey has been telling the EU, that Turkey will be a "great asset" to the EU once in the club with it's 70+ million population, but where is the indication, that this statement is true.!

Lets look at the "trnc", which is occupied by Turkey, run by Turkey, and there are open trade and Direct travel available to all Turks to the north from Turkey. With 70+ million Turks just 40 miles north of the "trnc", why hasn't the "trnc" benefited from this mighty "economic power house" by it's citizens. If every 70+ million Turks invested as little as 1 dollar a day through imports and holidaying in the north to help the TC's, that would bring around $26 Billion US Dollars into the TC's economy.! So why isn't the Turks supporting their "little cousins" in the north with their economic power.? The TC's already have a DIRECT TRADE and DIRECT FLIGHTS with Turkey, so why hasn't that help the TC's to become economically independent from the Turkish Governments economic control of them. If 70+ million fellow Brotherly Turks are not doing very much to make the north into an economic oasis, why would the rest of non Brotherly Europeans.? Is it because the north does not have very much in what others want.? It's question that needs to be asked, because so far, the 70+ Million Turks have been looking all other directions as to where to spend their money, any other place, except 40 miles to the south.!

Too much emphasis been put to the Direct Flight and Trade to help the TC's in the north, when 70+ million Turks are not doing very much when only 40 miles away, one should not expect miracles from afar distances from the rest of Europe. One more reason for the TC's to become part of Cyprus to reach their potentials economically as one country and one people. The last 35 years has proven them wrong, that going it alone, was not the best policy. Now is the time for the TC's to make use of the whole island to prosper economically, and be part of the EU, the UN and the International community.!