LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said on Saturday that no country in the world eliminated itself, stating that giving the impression that the state established by Turkish Cypriots would be eliminated one day prevented coming of investors to the country.
Denktas addressed the opening ceremony of a Turkish-Japanese joint venture Tuna Fish Farm, which was set up in Kumyali region in TRNC.
Stating that a Japanese official, one of the partners of the investment, stated that TRNC seemed unstable in economic and political sense in Japan, Denktas said despite this Japanese made investment in TRNC together with Dardanel company.
Denktas underlined that it was their duty to show to the world that TRNC was a reliable and stable country.
''How will we do this? By having confidence in ourselves and by showing that we are faithful to our state. We should not give the impression that our state will be eliminated one day. It is a mistake to give this impression after making so much sacrifices of Turkish Cypriots to establish the state.''
Denktas said the country should be protected in unity and integrity in the coming days, stating that Greek Cypriots, who seemed ''friendly'', launched initiatives to prevent the fish farm. Denktas thanked to investors and wanted bureaucracy in front of investors to be lifted.
Dardanel Group Executive Board Chairman Niyazi Onen said cost of the project was 4.5 million U.S. dollars, stating that they did not ask for any finance or credit from TRNC. He said all investment costs were met by Japanese and Turkish partners.
Onen said they made an investment in TRNC by considering may risks, adding that, ''as entrepreneurs, we consider the issues from economic point of view, and we want to be outside the political developments.''
Onen said Greek Cypriots applied to ICCAT, which carry out scientific researches for protection of tuna fish and give quota, on September 22 and demanded TRNC not to be accepted among activities of ICCAT.
(AY) 05.10.2003