LEFKOSA - ''Approval of Free Trade Regulation by the European Union (EU) will extremely be important for us,'' said Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Saturday.
Talat also said TRNC could not accept trade via Southern Cyprus.
Talat met a delegation from Mersin Chamber of Industry and Trade led by Chairman Kadir Saman.
Talat said under the actual conditions isolation of Turkish Cypriot side from the world still continued, stating that, ''integrated solution of Cyprus question and ending of isolation are determined as fundamental targets.''
Talat said free trade with the North of Cyprus is the primary and most important issue in this respect. ''Secondary issue is the financial support of the EU to northern Cyprus. Those two regulations will be discussed nowadays within the EU,'' he noted.
Talat said the issue would be taken up at a meeting scheduled for September 8th, as a result could not be obtained during the meeting held on September 2nd. Talat said they waited for a positive outcome on those two issues during the meeting of Council of Europe between September 13th and 14th.
-TRADE VIA SOUTHERN CYPRUS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED''
Emphasizing that trade via Southern Cyprus could not be accepted, Talat said, ''direct trade is extremely important for us. Magusa is an active port. However, it is not a port from which we can make preferential exports to EU. Greek Cypriot side opposes to this. They want us to make trade via Greek Cypriot administration. This is unacceptable for us. They want the ports in the South to be used. Using the ports in the South has many drawbacks for us.''
-GREEN LINE REGULATION-
Talat said the Greek Cypriot side said, ''let us present you several facilitation in trade within the island with the Green Line Regulation. Come and use Limasol and Larnaca ports and airports and make exports.''
Talat said those proposals have some negative elements including shifting of Turkish Cypriot economy to Southern Cyprus, registration of companies to Greek Cypriot side, making joint venture with a Greek Cypriot businessmen, and giving him a share from the profit.
Talat stressed that this would have dangers that may lead to regression of Gazimagusa Port.
''When we take all those into consideration, we can see that this will deal a blow to our economy. Considering this, European Union has already brought onto agenda Direct Trade Regulation besides the Green Line Regulation. Direct Trade Regulation may lead to a full competition atmosphere. Of course in free trade atmosphere, those who want may go to Limasol and make exports from there. Similarly, if a Greek Cypriot is to export products to Turkey, he may come and make it from Magusa Port.''
Talat said with the ratification of this regulation, claims of the Greek Cypriot side on ''recognition indirectly'' would be meaningless. He said it would once again be revealed that the target is not to be a separate state but re-unification of Cyprus.
(AY) 05.09.2004