EU FMs urge Turkey to work for Cyprus solution
FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE • Mon, Dec 05, 2011
TURKEY must work to support a Cyprus settlement and open its ports to the Republic of Cyprus as it has committed to do, Foreign Ministers from eleven EU member states have stressed.
In an article in the euobserver, entitled ''The EU and Turkey: steering a safer path through the storms'' the Foreign Ministers point out that a Cyprus settlement would have benefits extending well beyond the island, from aviation safety to more efficient EU/NATO co-operation.
''Turkey must also work to support a Cyprus settlement, and open its ports to the Republic of Cyprus as it has committed to do'', they underline.
The Foreign Ministers note that negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem have now reached an intensive phase and add ''we welcome the commitment of President Christofias and Dr Eroglu to work within the UN framework for a successful outcome''.
In addition, they note that ''Turkey’s accession process is of vital strategic and economic importance for both the EU and Turkey''.
Concluding, the eleven Foreign Ministers say they ''welcome Turkey’s commitment to continuing reforms to meet its European goal and offer her our full support''.
The article is signed by the Foreign Ministers of Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia and the UK.
In April 1987 Turkey imposed restrictions on Cypriot flagged vessels and in May 1997 Ankara issued new orders to extend the restrictions to include ships under a foreign flag which had any relation with the Republic of Cyprus
These restrictions disrupt shipping and air traffic, in addition to causing huge financial and other problems. Annual losses for Cyprus’ economy because of the restrictions amounted to 138,5 million euro in 2008, accounting for 1,3 % of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
The shipping industry records annual losses amounting to 100 m. euro. It is noted that 16% of the EU registered ships cannot dock at Turkish ports.
The Cyprus shipping register represents nearly 12% of the European registry and one quarter of the world’s ship management is represented by Cyprus.
Several official EU documents outline Turkey’s legal obligation to lift its embargo on Cypriot and EU shipping but so far Ankara has refused to meet its EU commitments.
The Cyprus ship registry today ranks tenth among international fleets and third in the EU. Cyprus is also a major ship management centre worldwide, with approximately 60 ship management companies operating on the island.
http://famagusta-gazette.com/eu-fms-urg ... 699-69.htm
