Looking for economic unification

THE CYPRUS government is in frequent communication with the German Presidency of the EU concerning the issue of direct trade between the Union and the Turkish Cypriot community, Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said yesterday.

He said that, “our effort is to find a solution to this issue that will fully correspond and completely satisfy the affirmed aim of trade with the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which, due to the invasion and occupation, are not under the effective control of the Cypriot government.”

Pashiardis said the aim was economic unification, which would be a contributing factor in the reunification of Cyprus.

“That is the permanent and declared aim of the effort to economically strengthen the Turkish Cypriots and surely this aim clashes with the illegal pursuit of the Turkish side politically to upgrade the illegal regime,” the spokesman added.

He said the relevant regulation could not possibly “promote secessionist situations” and “undermine the sovereign rights of member states or divert international legality”.
“This is what we say and this is what we will insist on,” he stressed.

Asked how Nicosia would react if decisions were taken without its consent, the spokesman said that, “without us, no decision can be taken.”

To a remark that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is suggesting the decision be taken by a majority, instead of unanimity, Pashiardis said: “it is not up to Mr Talat to set the rules under which the EU works.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.