REHN: “USE OF TRNC PORTS IS NOT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW”

 

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in a letter sent to the European Commission responded to Greek Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis’ letter claiming that the ferry services between the TRNC and Syria were illegal and that the EU should take the necessary measures on this issue.

 

In his letter, Rehn pointed out that the use of TRNC ports was not illegal according to the international law.

 

Rehn in his letter written on behalf of the Commission stated that he was aware that the Greek Cypriot administration lost its effective control over the ports in Northern Cyprus following the events in 1974 and closed the ports for the use of all sea vehicles.

 

Continuing, Rehn noted that although each state has the right to decide to close some of its ports to international transportation, according to the Commission’s understanding there isn’t any restraint against the use of ports in Northern Cyprus in the international law.

 

Rehn stressed that therefore the Commission was not in a position to intervene in the decision of the Syrian authorities.

 

 

 

WORKS ON EU ADAPTATION...

 

The delegation headed by the Head of the EU Commission’s Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community Andrew Rasbash and the Director of the EU Support Office in North Cyprus from the EU Alain Bothorel, which attended yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers to present the work needed to be done on 12 harmonization chapters scheduled to be opened for North Cyprus, met with representatives of political parties with seats in the Parliament.

 

12 harmonization chapters are continuing under the following topics: “Free Movement of Capital”, “Public Tenders”, “Corporate Law”, “Competition Law”, “Financial Services”, “Agriculture and Rural Developments”, “Food Safety”, “Transportation Policies”, “Statistics”, “Social Policy Studies”, “Environment” and “Protection of Consumers and Their Health”.