03.07.2018 Nicosia / TRNC
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Turkish business community would continue to stand by Turkish Cypriots just as they have in the past.
Turkey-TRNC Economic Relations meeting was held by the Turkish Chamber
of Commerce (TCCC) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB) in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Nicosia, capital of
Cyprus.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the most concrete indication
of how much the TRNC government gives priority to the business world is the participation
in today's meeting, “Economy, trade, tourism, education and investment are of
course very important but the most important is our brotherhood. You are our
partner and our brothers and sisters in all things. North Cyprus is the apple
in our eye.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that he knows that there are a number of factors
linking the two countries and that he knows there is potential to strengthen
economic ties. He also emphasized that the Turkish business community wants prosperity
for Turkish Cypriots and that the unfair isolation of Turkish Cypriots is slowing
this down.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the process of prosperity for the Turkish
Cypriots will continue thanks to the hard work and determination of Turkish
Cypriot which will in turn benefit the resolution process.
- We will stand with the Turkish
Cypriots
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that he believes economic reforms which will
strengthen the Turkish Cypriot economy and make more investments possible are
important. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We, the Turkish business community, will
continue to stand by Turkish Cypriots just as we have in the past.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that direct foreign investments are vital for
economic development, pointing out that they will always support a permanent
resolution process which does not neglect the interests of the TRNC.
Stating that an appropriate climate for investment should be created in
the TRNC, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they’ve presented their experiences on this
issue as Turkey to government officials and the President in 2002 and that the
equivalent of their Foreign Investors Advisory Council should be established.
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that they’ve established the Nicosia Economic
Forum, bringing together Greek and Turkey Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
Unions to take steps to provide support solutions such as establishing arbitration
on trade disputes but were not able to finalize the process.
- Republic of Turkey is sorely
needed
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman stated that the speakers
before him were talking about the Cyprus problem and that he wanted to focus on
the word “status quo.”
Noting that the Turkish Cypriot people, unable to come to the point they
desire in a socio-economic sense, the status quo also has psychological consequences,
Erhürman noted that this is a problem of self-confidence, that they are obliged
to overcome this problem together and that the most basic psychological
component of being a people is having a sense of, “we can.”
Prime Minister Erhürman emphasized that is only possible by producing
success stories, and that they want to create the feeling that, “Turkish
Cypriots can do these things.”
Stating, for that, the Republic of Turkey is sorely needed, Erhürman, “Turkey
is a window to the world for the TRNC. This is a great chance for Cyprus.”
- TRNC has been under unjust and
illegal embargoes for many years
TCCC President Turgaz Deniz stated that the TRNC has been held under
unjust and unlawful embargoes for many years and said that the so-called Cyprus
problem is being foisted on to the Turkish Cypriot people as if it is their doing
and that the basic rights of the Cypriot people are being assaulted while
living under embargo.
Deniz stated that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce believes that
the Cyprus problem was not only for the Turkish Cypriot people, but indeed for
all the peoples of the region, and that they are trying to contribute to the resolution
of this problem.
After the meeting, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and TCCC
President Deniz signed the “Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum”
establishment protocol.
The protocol aims to promote bilateral and multilateral trade and
investment, in addition to promoting dialogue in fields of common economic and
commercial interests.
The protocol envisions the creation of comprehensive trade and
investment facilitation mechanisms, information sharing, training programs,
technical delegation visits and conferences, the implementation of joint
projects and the development of joint activities.
The meeting was attended by TRNC Prime Minister Flood Erhür financing,
Economy and Energy Minister Ozdil Nami, Transport Minister Tolga Atakan and
Turkey's Nicosia Ambassador Derya Kanbay, Turkey Chambers and Stock Exchanges
Union (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Commerce (TCCC) President Turgay Deniz, HAK Trade Unions Confederation (Hak-İş)
President Mahmut Arslan, Public Servants Syndicates Confederation (Memur-Sen)
Chairman Ali Yalcin, Turkey Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK)
Chairman Bendevi Palandöken, Turkey Confederation of Trade Unions (TURK-IS)
President Ergun Atalay, Turkey Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK)
Executive Board Member Erhan Polat, Turkey Public workers Unions Confederation
(Turkey Kamu-Sen) President Önder Kahveci which make up the EU - Turkey Joint
Consultative Committee (JCC) Turkey Wing, TOBB Board Treasurer Faik Yavuz and
TEPAV Director Prof. Dr. Güven Sak as well as related officials attended.