LEFKOSA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Monday Turkish government officials met with TRNC government officials once in a month on average and those meetings were very beneficial.
Sener visited the same day TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas.
Cooperation was the essence of economic and political relations, Sener said, adding that both countries attributed great importance to each other.
Improving the relations between the two countries in all fields was their basic understanding and policy, Sener said, adding that the practices in economic field in TRNC had to be reviewed from time to time and he came to TRNC also for this purpose.
Sener said that in their meetings, they would take up implementation of the economic and financial cooperation in 2003, and determine the fields in which cooperation was fine and lacking.
Sener said that the developments in TRNC could not be ignored, adding that important successes were achieved in 28 years and those people who came from Greek Cypriot side saw the transformation in TRNC in the best way.
Sener said that more things had to be done, adding that Turkish businessmen should invest in TRNC and there should be an economic boom in TRNC.
Sener said that they gave incentives to four companies (three of TRNC origin) to encourage investments in TRNC, adding that 12 facilities would be built and 7,500 bed capacity would be ensured in TRNC within two years.
Sener stressed that the number of tourists coming to TRNC increased and tourism incomes doubled, adding that new investments would contribute to TRNC.
TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said that they would exchange view on things which were done and things which could not be done in the past.
Serdar Denktas said that they had some studies on cheaper transportation with Turkey and stated that they increased growth rate to 6 percent which they received at very low level. He added that they hoped that those who would come into political power would further increase it.
Denktas said that Turkey's contributions to TRNC could not be underestimated and stated that after gates were opened between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, Greek Cypriot people saw the change and were surprised by it and Turkish Cypriot people also noticed development in TRNC.
Stating that the importance of investment was understood once again, he said that Bafra project was a big step. Denktas said that only facilities which had the capacity of 8,000 beds were made in 28 years, but TRNC would have facilities which had the capacity of 7,500 beds with Bafra project next two years.
Noting that it was very important to use aids coming from Turkey to TRNC for development of economy, Denktas said that Turkey had a market comprised of 75 million people. He added that it was very important for development of 200 thousand of population.
Serdar Denktas said that the European Union (EU) did not bring immediately affluence to countries and stated that what was important was to use sources properly.
Sener also visited Turkish Ambassador in Lefkosa Hayati Guven.
Dervis Eroglu hosted a luncheon in honor of Sener.
(Öª-EÖ-AÖ) 08.12.2003