02.06.2014 KKTC
Cyprus hosted a historic summit attended by the businessmen of 4 countries. Businessmen from Turkey, Greece, Southern Cyprus and TRNC met at the green line and discussed the future of the island. On the agenda of the meeting was the production of joint projects to facilitate the peaceful coexistence of both peoples of the island. It was decided that the second meeting would be held in September 14th, 2014 in İstanbul.
Attending the meeting were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the
Union of Hellenic Chambers President Constantine Michalos, TRNC Chamber of
Commerce President Fikri Toros and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce Phidias
Pilides and the businessmen accompanying them. TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that they are witnessing a historic event of the
island and said, “For the first time, the peoples of the both sides of Cyprus,
Greece and Turkey are coming together to discuss the matter of Cyprus. Just
this fact by itself should show how hopeful for the future of these talks.”
- TOBB’s full support
Thanking TRNC Chamber of Commerce and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they would provide all the support they
were able to with Union of Hellenic Chambers President Constantine Michalos
throughout the process: “It is an honor to be here. I hope that the steps we
take today will result in the establishment of a mechanism for dialogue between
the business communities. As TOBB, we support this process to the very end.”
- Joint declaration
At the end of the summit, it was decided that the second meeting would
be held in September 14th, 2014 in İstanbul. Additionally a joint
declaration was made in which emphasis was made on contributions of the parties
to the process; that a lack of solution is detrimental to the interests of
everyone involved. “We, the Chambers, are in support of the February 11th
2014 Joint Declaration signed prior to the negotiations aiming to bring an end
to the issues effecting Cyprus. We believe that the solution will contribute
greatly to the island’s economy; will increase the prosperity of all Cypriots –
Turkish and Greek. We, the Chambers, also believe that Cyprus will also benefit
the region it is situated in as a part of the expanded European Union including
Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.
We, the Chambers, will not only contribute to the establishment of an
atmosphere of positivity and engendering more trust, we will also contribute to
the encouragement of removal of obstacles to economic and trade relations. This
is a great opportunity to bring the Cyprus issue to a resolution and as the
Chambers, we will do all that we can to make sure this chance is not wasted.”