ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that the Customs Union framework agreement which was signed between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would not cause any problem and stated that on the contrary, he expected positive reactions on the agreement from the European Union (EU) circles.
Sener, State Minister Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan who attended the Sixth Partnership Council meeting in TRNC returned to Turkey late on Friday.
Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Sener recalled that partnership council was established between Turkey and TRNC in 1997 and stated that the sixth partnership council meeting was held on Friday.
Sener said that great effort was exerted for development of economic relations between the two countries at the meeting in question and stated that officials from State Planning Organization, Treasury Undersecretariat, Finance Ministry and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat carried out activities at technical level as of Monday.
Stating that the meeting aimed to further develop solidarity and cooperation between Turkey and TRNC, Sener said that Customs Union framework agreement was signed between the two countries.
Sener said, ''I told some tv channels on Thursday evening that there is political will on signing the Customs Union framework agreement between Turkey and TRNC. However, I also said that if technical study does not reach the desired level, signing such an agreement can be postponed. But, this agreement was signed on Friday since technical studies were completed.''
Sener said there were some important reasons of signing of agreement in question, stating that settling economic balances in Cyprus was one of those reasons, broadening trade and investment climate, increasing competition force, and increasing prosperity level of people were among those reasons.
Sener underlined that the second important reason of signing of the agreement was to provide integration of Cyprus economy with international economic systems, mainly the EU.
Sener said arrangements which would be made by basing on EU perspective and norms, would contribute to the improvement of trade and economic relations in Cyprus and in the region, and thus this would contribute to a lasting compromise on the Island.
Sener said they visited TRNC President Rauf Denktas following Partnership Council meeting, noting that Denktas held a news conference after the meeting and made an important call.
Sener said, ''Denktas in his call to the Greek Cypriot Administration stressed the importance of Customs Union Framework Agreement and called on Greek Cypriot administration to make a similar customs union agreement. We think that this call which was made by Denktas was as meaningful as the Customs Union Framework Agreement that was signed between Turkey and the TRNC.''
Sener said turning Mediterranean into a free trade market was a target in fundamental principles of the EU, adding that, ''developments in the world showed a process that customs decreased between all the countries.''
(EÖ-AY) 09.08.2003