COMMERCE Minister George Lillikas sought to calm down fears yesterday that Turkish Cypriot products were flooding the market with cheaper prices, as a result of trade between the two communities based on the Green Line Regulation (GLR).
Reports emerged yesterday that Turkish Cypriot fruit and vegetables were replacing Greek Cypriot products on the supermarket shelves, with one producer complaining of unfair competition because of lower costs in the north.
Lillikas told reporters that there was no reason to worry, saying: “Those spreading panic are harming our case, and not being realistic, because the quantities of products produced in the north and allowed to be traded are very small compared to the products we produce.”
The minister noted that increased trade between the two sides and going both ways was beneficial to the country and the political environment, and could be built on to reunify the island.
“We are even trying to get these products moving through our airports and ports to the European market and that must be our target,” he added.
Regarding the strict criteria for trading with the south, Lillikas said: “Turkish Cypriots must understand that from the moment we acceded to the EU, many checks and controls are imposed by the EU itself because whatever moves freely in the free areas as a product can move freely without checks throughout the EU.”
Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou said that all necessary checks were made by ministry officials on any agricultural products moving from north to south under the GLR. Animal products are not permitted to cross the Green Line under the regulation.
Regarding Greek Cypriot concerns over cheaper costs in the north, leading to more competitive prices, Efthymiou said producers were also “concerned about the import of agricultural products from the EU and third countries” adding “this is something we have to face”.
“The official government policy has been declared regarding the crossing of farming products and support to Turkish Cypriots,” he concluded.
Head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Ali Erel said the value of fruit and vegetables which had crossed from north to south since January 1 only amounted to £8,400.
“This amount would disappear within two hours on supermarket shelves,” said Erel.
Regarding general trade from north to south, Erel said a total value of £49,000 worth of products had crossed the Green Line since the start of the year.
