The Turkish Cypriot brick producer at the centre of an unfair competition row has hit back at claims that his bricks do not fulfil the minimum manufacturing standards of the EU.
Seven Greek Cypriot brick factories are seeking a court injunction to prohibit the transport of bricks from the north, arguing that manufacturers in the north are not following EU rules and are not subject to the requisite factory controls for the manufacture of the bricks. They claim that the Republic of Cyprus is violating their constitutional right to equal treatment because the aquis communautaire does not apply to their Turkish Cypriot rivals.
The seven companies are raising questions about the quality of the bricks being brought over the Green Line and, by extension, the safety of structure built using the bricks.
But the Turkish Cypriot manufacturer Mustafa Ersozlu said in an email yesterday: “My company started to sell bricks to the south in March 2009. The sale is legal according to the Green Line Regulations. All the required documents were given to the relevant department of the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of the Interior and legal permission was given by their offices.”
Ersozlu confirmed claims that his company, Gurdag Trading and Industry Limited, operates on land owned by the Paraskevaides family, but added: “Our work is not illegal. We are paying monthly rent to the authority in the ‘Turkish Republic of North Cyprus’ to run our business. All of the machines and equipment belongs to our company.”
Concerning EU standards he said: “We have a CE (Centre of Engineering) certificate, given to us by a foundation authorised by the EU.’ He attached a copy.
“All the criteria of quality and reliability of the CE are being fulfilled. We are producing goods that have at least the same quality as (the Greek Cypriot companies’) goods. Furthermore we sell our goods at cheaper prices than they do.”
“This is where the confusion comes from because they fear that they will lose their market. They want to save their existing status quo and cartel and they don’t want any competition.”
The lawyer for the seven companies, Achilleas Emilianides had said that the Greek Cypriot companies charged more for their bricks because they are manufactured under more carefully-controlled conditions.
Ersozlu rebutted claims of unfair competition saying: “The Greek Cypriot newspapers and TV. Channels have put an advertisement embargo on Turkish Cypriot products and we cannot advertise our products any more. That is the real unfair competition.
“One of the complainant Greek Cypriot brick producers is selling a full truck of roof tiles to the (occupied areas) every day but nobody is trying to block him.”
The seven Greek Cypriot companies are seeking an injunction from the court to prevent the transport of bricks from the north. They are also asking for compensation from the government for loss of income due to unfair competition dating from 2004, when trade was opened with the north.
