THE WORLD Bank and the US government signalled at the weekend they were ready to take action on Cyprus to end the forty-year economic and political isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Speaking to a reporter from the Anatolian News Agency (AA), Director of the World Bank’s Turkish Office Andrew Vorlink said his organisation was committed to bringing about “equality and justice” between the two sides on the island – something which he said could be achieved through aid from the Bank and an influx of foreign investment.
“When the status of the north becomes clear, we believe will see very large capital investments in the north,” he said.
Vorlink added the potential for tourism in the north outstripped that of the south, making it an attractive investment prospect for overseas companies, which he said would flock to the island once the international community had decided on what basis to establish relations with the north.
He also highlighted that the rate of increase in incomes north of the Green Line was also currently six per cent per annum, as opposed to just two per cent in the south. This, he said, showed a greater potential for growth in the north than in the south.
Vorlink, however, called on the north to implement urgent reforms of its banking, public administration and social services sectors, and it is not yet known whether aid from the World Bank will be dependent on the implementation of these reforms.
He also called on the international community to declare its position on north Cyprus “as soon as possible” so practical steps could be taken to lift sanctions on the impoverished statelet.
Vorlink added that the US was also keen to see end to sanctions against the Turkish Cypriots and referred to a package that would be unveiled in the next “two to three weeks”.
While not disclosing the contents of the package, Vorlink said it recommendations were based on problems highlighted by Turkish Cypriot leader Talat during discussions with US Secretary of State Collin Powell.
US Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston also made statements at the weekend that will undoubted please Talat and his supporters.
In an interview given to Greek-language daily Phileleftheros, Weston gave his country’s blessing to Talat, describing him as the “current leader of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
He also urged that Turkish Cypriots should not be blamed in any way for the failure to implement the UN’s Annan plan for Cyprus, and sought to give guarantees that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots would soon come to an end.
“We can definitely say that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will come to an end,” he said, adding that his country’s economic support will not be “merely symbolic”.
Weston also said a decision would be made in the coming days on what form aid to the north would take and that a great deal of work was currently being carried out on the island to determine how political, cultural and sporting links could be established between the statelet and the outside world.
