THE TURKISH Cypriot Chamber of Commerce yesterday opened its own representation in Brussels, saying it was the only way in which the Turkish Cypriot community could find representation on the fringes of the EU.
“Now that the EU representation in Nicosia is headed by a Greek Cypriot, we, the Turkish Cypriots, feel we no longer have a voice in EU forums,” Chamber of Commerce head Ali Erel told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.
“This is why we are here in Brussels opening this permanent representation in order to lobby for the lifting of the economic isolation of our community, the development of our economy and for the implementation of free trade for the north.”
Erel said he believed the plight of the Turkish Cypriot community had in recent months been “deprioritised” by the EU, as it focused its attention on how to resolve problems between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus ahead of the October 3 start date for Turkish accession to the bloc.
“Basically, nothing is moving. Nothing is even being done to expand the Green Line regulation,” Erel said.
The Green Line regulation was implemented soon after Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004 and sought to engender the movement of goods between the two communities, allowing Turkish Cypriot businessmen to enjoy the benefits of operating in a single European market. Erel said, however, that while the regulation had proved useful in ending travel restrictions on the island for EU citizens, the amount of trade crossing from the north to the south was negligible.
“We are no longer a big priority,” he lamented.
“The problem is that we are not at the table when we are being discussed. That is why we want an office here [Brussels] in order that our voice is heard,” Erel said.
“It will be a burden,” he added referring to the cost, “but we believe it will be worth it. We can’t realistically avoid this expense”.
The EU representative’s office in Nicosia said yesterday it was aware of the steps being taken by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. A spokesperson for the office said: “Every NGO has the right to do this. It is a common practice.”
She added that setting up offices in Brussels for the purpose of lobbying was “a very legitimate thing to do”, but reacted with surprise at the suggestion that the Turkish Cypriot community no longer felt it had any representation in EU forums since Greek Cypriot Themis Themistocleous took over as head or the Nicosia representation from Dutch national Adriaan van der Meer.
“This representation works for the whole of the island. This office today has exactly the same function as before,” the spokeswoman said, adding that she did not believe the Turkish Cypriot community needed further assurances that this was the case.
Underlining the political commitment to the effort was the presence of ‘prime minister’ Ferdi Sabit Soyer, who called on the EU to stick to its promises to end the political and economic isolation of the north.
