STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSOC.PROF. TURGAY AVCI

As is known, despite the three years of its emergence, the Direct Trade Regulation, which has been drawn up in line with the European Union Resolution of 26 April 2004, as an important step towards the lifting of the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people, has not yet been implemented. The most important reason behind this stalemate is the Greek Cypriot obstructionism. The recent announcement of the so-called “economic measures” directed towards the Turkish Cypriots by the Greek Cypriot administration, which has intensified its efforts to attach preconditions to the adoption of the said Regulation and deviate it from its objective, is aimed at maintaining the 40 year old isolation on our people.

The introduction of the “economic measures” with the purported goal of “improving the conditions of cooperation between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots in the economic sector” is in fact, an effort aimed at creating a positive image to mislead the international community, particularly the European Union. The Greek Cypriot political circles have also defined the said measures as being insincere and as an effort aimed at preventing direct trade between Northern Cyprus and EU countries.

The GCA has proven its negative stance over the improvement of economic relations between the two sides on all occasions by hampering the implementation of the Green Line Regulation and by its efforts to obstruct every single initiative that would contribute to our economy. The real aim of the so-called initiatives announced by the Greek Cypriot side is to realize the goal of osmosis by rendering the Turkish Cypriot people, which they perceive as minority, economically dependent on the Greek Cypriot side.

The recent initiative of the Greek Cypriot side does not serve any purpose except for doing away with the Direct Trade Regulation which has been on the agenda of the EU Presidency. Moreover, the ill-intentioned measures, which the Greek Cypriot side is attempting to represent as an “opening”, includes also the economic matters that ought to be taken up by the technical committees to be set up within the framework of 8 July Agreement and hence deals a serious blow to the 8 July process.

All parties concerned with the Cyprus issue, the UN and the EU in particular, should dismiss the misleading and token initiatives of the Greek Cypriot administration, warning the Greek Cypriot side to refrain from actions that could have a negative impact on the 8 July process and, ensure the adoption of the Direct Trade Regulation to enable preferential trade with the EU through our ports without further delay.

It should be known that we will continue not to accept impositions such as this one as well as others by the Greek Cypriot side. We call upon the Greek Cypriot side, which is doing everything in its power to thwart our economy, to face up to the reality. We underline once again that the Turkish Cypriot people will not yield under any circumstances and will continue with its efforts directed towards the strengthening of our economy and integration with the world.

Lefkoşa, 24 May 2007