Customs Union Agreement Signed with Cyprus

Sener said the agreement was important for integration of TRNC economy with international economic system and with respect to preparations before its integration with the EU.

TRNC Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said in his part, ”we take the most important step for our economy to further improve and to integrate with the world economy.”

Denktas said studies would start to complete technical protocols by committees after signing of agreement.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of Turkey-TRNC Customs Union Framework Agreement, Sener said 6th Partnership Council meeting was completed.

Sener said technical studies carried out by joint committees were reviewed by putting political will mutually.

Sener said, ”we live in the 21st century and international relations changed dimension. International trade relations improved and new arrangements take place continuously for international competition to improve world economy.”

Sener said in the coming process, in an atmosphere where globalization rapidly continued, customs turned into an atmosphere where the goods, produced in countries, sent to various markets of the world. This is a reality of the world.”

Sener said those concepts were also extremely important with respect to European Union (EU) norms, stating that, ”turning Mediterranean into a free trade zone is among the fundamental targets of the EU. The government takes steps in line with those fundamental targets. We consider the agreement which we signed today within this fundamental evaluation.”

Sener said with the agreement, by basing on the EU norms, integration of TRNC economy would be provided with the international economic system, mainly the EU. Sener stressed that the agreement was important with respect to TRNC economy’s integration with the international economy, and with respect to the preparations before integration with the EU.

Sener said settling economic balances in TRNC, changing trade and investment climate in TRNC, improvement of competition power, increase of welfare level of people and providing a sustainable economic development were principle targets of the agreement.

Sener said he wished the agreement to be beneficial for Turkey, TRNC, EU and the world economy.

DENKTAS: WE WANT TO MAKE A CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT WITH GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that they wanted to sign a customs union agreement with the Greek Cypriot side similar to the one which TRNC signed with Turkey.

Speaking at a meeting with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and State Ministers Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan who participated in Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council, Denktas said their target was to provide the harmonization, which the EU wanted to see in the Mediterranean, within the island.

Denktas said very important things could be made by good will and by accepting existence of both sides. He said necessary steps could more easily be taken which are necessary for a lasting peace. Denktas said, ”I propose those, I wish them to be accepted.”

Stating that framework agreement was a source of morale for Turkish Cypriot people, Denktas said they wished the agreement to take effect soon.

Denktas said the agreement would serve to the integration of TRNC to international system, mainly the EU.

When Denktas was reminded the criticisms of Greek Cypriot administration toward the customs union, he said, ”they may criticize. We say cooperation instead of criticism. We may lead to everywhere with a sincere and balanced cooperation.”

When Greek Cypriot journalists asked whether or not he would announce the names of Greek Cypriots who applied to compensation commission, Denktas said there were Greek Cypriots who had applied but that he did not think of announcing their names.

Sener in his part said customs union agreement would play a critical role to strengthen and diversify economic relations between the two countries, and that he hoped that positive results would be obtained soon.

When Greek Cypriot journalists asked about his views regarded with Annan Plan, Sener said the important thing was peace and cooperation.

Referring to the proposal of Denktas to the Greek Cypriot side to sign customs union agreement, Sener said those were important steps, and important opportunities for peace.

EROGLU: ”IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR OUR FUTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said on Friday that Customs Union Framework Agreement which was signed today was a very important step for the future of Turkish Cypriots and economic development.

Eroglu released a statement after the signing of Framework Agreement following Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council meetings at Colony Hotel in Girne. He said that final shape was given today to the activities carried on for one week between technical delegations.

Noting that when Framework Agreement was examined, the importance that Turkey attributed to the development of TRNC was understood better, Eroglu said that signing of the agreement was meaningful and pleasing in a period when scenarios were written on TRNC’s future and people.

TURKEY-TRNC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL FINAL STATEMENT RELEASED

GIRNE – Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) confirmed on Friday the previous agreements on deepening economic and commercial relations between two countries and encouragement and diversification of investments towards TRNC in the final statement released after the Sixth Partnership Council meeting held between Turkey and TRNC.

The statement noted that Turkish Cypriot people’s indispensable rights would be protected and a just, permanent and lasting political solution was requested in TRNC and that new openings which started with the initiative of TRNC President Rauf Denktas showed this will of Turkish Cypriots clearly. ”These steps which are taken by Turkish Cypriots should be evaluated carefully by all concerned sides,” said the statement.

The statement emphasized that all sides should accept the realities in the island and equal status of both sides for a permanent solution. Consensus was related with the equal sovereignty of both sides, bizonality, continuation of active guarantee of Turkey and with the protection of Turkish-Greek balance in the island, noted the statement.

The statement noted that Turkish Cypriot side was determined to carry on new openings for providing security atmosphere in the island in the coming period and said, ”however, it is impossible to make progress in consensus only with the steps taken by one side.”

The statement noted that unjust embargoes and restrictions had been imposed on Turkish Cypriot people in the fields of transportation, communication, trade, economy, science, culture and sports for 40 years.

”Turkey and TRNC believe that every type of embargo imposed on Cyprus island should be lifted rapidly. In any case, even if all existing embargoes and preventions continue, both countries are determined to take every type of measures for the development of TRNC and to bring the prosperity level that Turkish Cypriots deserve,” said the statement.

According to statement, strategies that attribute importance to the strengthening of social balances and development of real economy in TRNC would be implemented within this scope and Turkey would continue its financial, economic and technical support to TRNC.

The statement noted that sides agreed on making new arrangements within the activities to establish joint economic field between two countries.

”Within this scope, it was decided to complete rapidly the technical protocols of Customs Union Framework Agreement signed between Turkey and TRNC with the target of harmonization of Turkish and TRNC regulations by taking the European Union (EU) norms as basis to provide integration of TRNC economy with international economic system,” noted the statement.

According to the statement, it was decided to increase production especially for export, to remove obstacles in front of foreign trade, betterment of transportation vehicles and equipment and services in ports and expending financial and technical support for development of free zones.

Stressing that implementation of ”urgent economic measures” program in TRNC would continue, the statement said arrangements encouraging foreign investors to come to TRNC and Turkish businessmen to hold joint investments with the TRNC investors would be made.

The statement said the sides agreed on:

-supporting real sector and taking measures to increase investment, production and employment.

-taking legal and administrative measures that would be needed for implementation of big projects within the encouragement model in TRNC.

-continuation of infrastructure investments increasingly.

-continuation of contributions of Lefke European University.

-completion of projects in northern coastal road and Girne ringroad.

-taking Guzelyurt-Lefkosa road to investment program

-getting inventory of TRNC’s water sources and completion of studies till the end of 2003

-continuation of direct income support to farmers

-supporting cooperation between Turkish Airlines (THY) and Turkish Cypriot Airlines and reducing fees and taxes taken in airports and ports to the minimum level.

-continuation of the implementation in which related authorities of Turkey give ”health and free sales certificate” to the goods, which were produced in TRNC and registered in Turkey.

STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SENER AND ACCOMPANYING MINISTERS DEPART FROM TRNC

GECITKALE – State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and accompanying delegation, who arrived in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council meeting on Friday morning, departed from TRNC after wrapping up their contacts.

State Ministers Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan also departed from TRNC with Sener.

Turkish delegation participated in Partnership Council meetings which lasted all day. The delegation were received by TRNC President Rauf Denktas after signing Customs Union Framework Agreement between two countries.

DENKTAS: ”CALL OF PRESIDENT DENKTAS TO GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT”

LEFKOSA – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas said on Friday that the suggestion of President Rauf Denktas to Greek Cypriot administration who said, ”come and we shall sign a similar of customs union agreement that we signed with Turkey” was as important as the signing of Customs Union Agreement.

Replying questions of A.A correspondent, Denktas said that extension of Partnership Council meetings did not mean that there were hesitations about the signing of customs union agreement and the agreement was very important. He added that the suggestion of Denktas should be evaluated very well by Greek Cypriot administration and all concerned sides.

Denktas said, ”this is a sincere call and a true initiative; I hope it is evaluated well.”

Noting that there was not a special condition for Framework Agreement’s coming into force, Denktas said that the agreement would be evaluated like other international customs union agreements and it would go into effect after the completion of necessary technical protocol studies.

When asked his estimation about the validity date of agreement, Denktas said that I wish it would at latest one month.

Noting that some activities should be made to protect agriculture and industry sectors in TRNC, Denktas said that the agreement would come into effect at latest through the end of year.