Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has announced that the sub-committee of COREPER- the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union- is going to discuss the issue of Direct Trade Regulation on Tuesday the 15th of May.

On the same day, an event will also be organized by the Chamber in Brussels, calling on the European Parliament to implement the Direct Trade Regulation and lift the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People.
The event, which will be held between 10 am and 12 noon, in the Schumann Square which is in front of the Parliament, will be attended by businessmen as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, universities and media institutions from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce- Erdil Nami stated that the aim of the event is to remind the European Parliament that the Greek Cypriots are not the only inhabitants of Cyprus, there are Turkish Cypriots as well.

He said the Turkish Cypriot People will call on the EU to keep its promise that is to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

The President of the Chamber also informed that the group will be calling for the recognition of universities in the TRNC and their accession into the Bologna Process.

Mr Nami added that several folk-dancing and fashion shows will also be displayed during the event.

The group will fly to Brussels on Tuesday with the Cyprus Turkish Airlines which was hired by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.

Earlier, the Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev also announced that the CORPEPER’s sub-committee would meet to discuss the Direct Trade Regulation.

Mr Pertev said the EU term-president Germany was keeping its cards closed on the issue of the Regulation but added that Germany’s views would come to the surface during the meeting of COREPER.

[halil]

PERTEV: COREPER’S SUB-COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS DIRECT TRADE ON THE 22ND OF MAY.
Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev has announced that the sub-committee of COREPER- the Committee of Permanent Representatives within the European Union- is going to discuss the issue of the Direct Trade Regulation at a meeting to be held on the 22nd of May.

The discussion was earlier scheduled to take place on the 15th, but was later postponed.
Speaking to the BRT, the Presidential Undersecretary stated that the EU term-president Germany is not expected to unveil a hidden card on the issue but that the discussion will only be based on providing information on the developments that have taken place on the Direct Trade Regulation.

Mr. Pertev went on to say that it is difficult to predict the outcome of the meeting, as the Turkish Cypriot Side has been following the policies carried out by the EU officials from a distance.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot Side has done everything in its power for the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation, Rasit Pertev said if the meeting results in failure, the Regulation will be transferred onto Portugal’s agenda which will take over the next EU presidency in June.

‘However, Germany has a historic responsibility on the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation’ he added.

Responding to a question on the lobbying activities carried out by the
Swedish permanent representative in Brussels, the Presidential Undersecretary referred to this as a positive development.

[halil]

The sub-committee of COREPER- the Committee of Permanent Representatives within the European Union has failed to take a decision on the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation which aims to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

A decision however was taken by the committee for the continuation of bi-lateral meetings on the issue with the two sides on the island.
The EU term-president Germany informed the member countries about the latest developments and current situation on the issue of direct trade with North Cyprus during today’s meeting.

Experts now say that it is almost certain that the issue which has been pending for the last 3 years will be transferred to Portugal’s EU Term Presidency in July.

Commenting on the issue, the EU Affairs Director of the TRNC Presidency Armağan Candan underlined the importance of the Direct Trade Regulation, pointing out that implementation of the regulation will liberalize the EU’s trade regime imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He said that the regulation addresses the question as to how and who will issue health standard certificates for Turkish Cypriot goods to be exported to EU member countries.

The European Commission had presented the Direct Trade and Financial Assistance Regulation to the European Council on the 7th of July 2004 after approving a decision on the 26th of April 2004 to remove the international isolation of Turkish Cypriot people and to develop the North Cyprus Economy.

Although the Financial Assistance Regulation was put into implementation last year, the EU has yet to implement the Direct Trade Regulaition which will regulate direct trade between North Cyprus and EU member countries.

[cypezokyli]

the whole thing with direct trade, has nothing to do with trade.
talat knows it, so does tpap.

tpap will block any attempts in the EU, that through trade attempt to achieve recognition.
at the same time he will offer some other ways of trade (he already declared some yesterday....not bc he likes them but because he has no other option.... no tc journalist attented , even though they were invited) , and the tc leadership will reject them.

[Kikapu]

the whole thing with direct trade, has nothing to do with trade.
talat knows it, so does tpap.

tpap will block any attempts in the EU, that through trade attempt to achieve recognition.
at the same time he will offer some other ways of trade (he already declared some yesterday....not bc he likes them but because he has no other option.... no tc journalist attented , even though they were invited) , and the tc leadership will reject them.

You are correct Cypezokyli.

If the TC's could not get a Direct Trade from 1974 until 2004, when the Green Line was sealed, how do they expect to get any Direct Trade from the "TRNC", when the Green Line is now open. What possible arguments can they present, when clearly there is an option, to trade through the RoC. I understand all the reasons why the "TRNC" does not want to trade through the RoC, but at the same time, it makes their cries for Direct Trade fall on "death ears" because they see the TC's as not willing to utilize all the tools available for them for Trade, but it is Recognition that is sought, and not Direct Trade. Of course, Direct Trade will be also a Bonus next to the main goal, which is Recognition.

[halil]

TWO MEMBERS OF COROPER HOLD CONTACTS IN THE TRNC.
Two members of a working group in the subcommittee of COREPER-Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union are holding a series of inspections and contacts in the TRNC.
The two diplomats, Finnish member Mariatta Heika and Estonian member Kulliki Linnamagi who are in the TRNC, visited yesterday the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Prime Minister’s office for coordinating EU affairs and TRNC Commission for Higher Education YODAK.

As part of their contacts, the group visited today the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, the Cyprus Turkish Human Rights Foundation, the Near East University as well as toured the Buffer Zone.
The members will be leaving the TRNC tomorrow.