TRNC Public Information Office

Letter written to the EU Commissioner Günter Verhaugen by Mr. Ali Erel, the President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on 08.03.2002

Commissioner Günter Verhaugen,
DG Enlargement.

Dear Mr. Verhaugen,

We are pleased to receive you today at the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. We would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention our following views:

- We are pleased that your visit coincides with the opening of our EU Information Centre, which will help our people to be better informed about the EU. The establishment of this centre proves that when both sides want to, a mutually acceptable way of cooperation can be found despite the political problem.

- We feel more such cooperation is possible. Acceptance of health certificates, certificates of origin, and other such documents issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce would go a long way to help make Turkish Cypriot –EU rapprochement a reality. We expect your contribution and guidance to that effect.

- Just yesterday President Denktaş made what we believe to be a very timely and constructive statement regarding the EU. He stated that the Turkish side is ready to establish a United Cyprus that will enter into the EU. He said “lets form a common hat, a common government, under which we both can enter into the EU. There can be no greater opening than this”. We fully share this vision and hope the EU makes it clear that this has been positively received.

- Embargoes are high on our agenda. We need to find creative ways to start overcoming this inhumane treatment of our people. Progress on that front will help us to keep a positive atmosphere regarding a comprehensive settlement.

- We are disappointed that our Greek Cypriot counterparts have so far shied away from taking up this issue with us. They see embargoes as a political issue whereas we see it as a humanitarian and economic issue.

- We fully support the direct talks aimed at finding a comprehensive settlement. We are aware of the significance of the year 2002 and the need to reach at least a framework agreement by June.

- What we understand from a settlement is a new partnership between two politically equal states, followed by EU accession of this new state, preserving the Greco-Turkish external balance over the island.

- We are aware that such a scenario necessitates concessions from both sides but we believe this would be a “win-win” alternative and hope that benefits of joint EU accession will more than offset the concession made by both sides. We seek your support to disseminate this message.

- It is clear that Turkish Cypriot officials need to be put up to speed with the EU. As in the question of bypassing embargoes, a creative way to enter in to dialogue with our authorities needs to be found. It is high time that we stop falling into the trap of “recognition by implication” argument. We don’t believe there is such a thing.

- We strongly believe unilateral accession by Greek Cypriots will needlessly destabilize our island as well as the region. We are concerned that the EU underestimates the probability of such a scenario. Greek Cypriots seem over confident with their EU accession process. We perceive this as a great threat to the talks and only the EU can stop this. So please reiterate the second part of the paragraph on Cyprus of the Helsinki Summit Decisions more often.

- Turkish Cypriot people are European. Bringing in the Turkish Cypriot people successfully into the EU will resonate beyond our borders and send a hopeful message to our troubled region.