Cyprus-Forum.com

[RAFAELLA]

6/14/2005 LEFKOSA - TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said on Tuesday that it was not possible for Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels while the latter's boycott on Turkish Cypriot sea/air-ports is still in effect.
Responding to questions of journalists, Talat said that ''the additional protocol-- extending Turkey's customs deal to new EU members, including Greek Cypriot side-- is going to be signed, but this does not mean that the ports will be opened by Turkey. While the Greek Cypriot side boycotts the ports and airports of TRNC, Turkey can't open its ports to Greek Cypriots.''
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=47074

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That's Talat's opinion, did he ask EU about it though?
Anyhow, why is he making statetments on behalf of TR?

He claims that Gcs boycott the ports and airports at the occupied areas and he fails to mention anything regarding international laws.
TR is obliged, since she will sign the protocol, to open her ports & airports to Cy Rep. whereas nobody is obliged to do anything for Talat's puppet state.

[garbitsch]

Such Greek side's enthusiasm to establish trade links with Turkey will cause them a great headache in the future. Will the local G.C producers be able to compete with great Turkish firms, whose goods are both cheap and qualified?

[suetoniuspaulinus]

Such Greek side's enthusiasm to establish trade links with Turkey will cause them a great headache in the future. Will the local G.C producers be able to compete with great Turkish firms, whose goods are both cheap and qualified?

Mr garbitsch

Is it possible that GC's need access to Turkish ports so that their goods can be transported by road rather than by sea?

I think Road Freight may be cheaper and/ or faster than sea freight. especially for Europe.

[Viewpoint]

RAFAELLA

TR is obliged, since she will sign the protocol, to open her ports & airports to Cy Rep. whereas nobody is obliged to do anything for Talat's puppet state.

You are right about Turkey signing the protocol, she has constantly agreed to this from day 1 but on the later issue, there is so much red tape that southern Cyprus will have to wait for permission from Turkish government on all issues, this can be 1 year or even 10 who knows???? So dont hold your breath, Turkey is not some naive country that does not know what she is getting into Im certain she has the green light from EU on anything that may mean defacto recognition before a solution. Dont forget the EU is not a great fan of Southern Cyprus however much your administration want to camoflage this fact.

Turkey has been very supportive of the TRNC over the past 31 years, please dont go green

[garbitsch]

It might be possible aswell Suetonius.

[boulio]

the greek cypriot shipping registery is one of the largest in the world(combined with greece they account for over 50% of the eu fleet)there for its not for direct cypriot goods going to turkey but other countries goods which will be carried to turkey with cypriot flagged ships.Unfortunatly viewpoint the protocol is not just signing but also implementing it which will happen after the turkish national assembly passes it.

[cannedmoose]

Is it possible that GC's need access to Turkish ports so that their goods can be transported by road rather than by sea?

I think Road Freight may be cheaper and/ or faster than sea freight. especially for Europe.

I'd say the opposite SP... it would probably take longer to truck goods across Turkey and up through the balkans than to ship them across the Med. Given the economies of scale achieved by shipping large volumes of goods, comparing the cost of shipping with haulage should theoretically be a non-starter. The advantage to the RoC of the opening of Turkish ports would be accessing the vast Turkish market on its doorstep. Then again, whether the RoC has anything that Turkey isn't able to produce or produce cheaper is questionable.

Also, Boulio just beat me to it, but it would also mean that the vast Cypriot register, within which there are many foreign-owned vessels, would be able to ship goods to the developing Turkish market.

[Viewpoint]

boulio

Unfortunatly viewpoint the protocol is not just signing but also implementing it which will happen after the turkish national assembly passes it.

as I said before dont hold your breath......

[boulio]

sure and when next years monetary package goes to the floor of the eu and there is a billion euros waiting for turkey for implementing laws and improving infrastructure dont hold your breath that you will get it either.

[Viewpoint]

boulio dont think Turkey is holding its breath either,not the way things are developing in the EU...