Turkish Cypriot
civil society
organisations demand
urgent solution to
the Cyprus problem
16 Turkish Cypriot
civil society
organisations led by
KTTO sent a letter
to Alexander Downer,
UN Special Adviser
to the Secretary
General on Cyprus,
asking for the
immediate launch of
the reunification
talks from where the
two sides left it in
2012 and demanding
an urgent solution
to the Cyprus
problem by early
2014.
The civil society
organisations
expressed their
disappointment with
the recent
statements made by
the Greek Cypriot
Leader Mr. Nicos
Anastasiades that
any round of
comprehensive
settlement talks on
the Cyprus issue
would not begin from
where the two sides
left it in 2012.
This is seen as a
clear indication of
the Greek Cypriot
Leader’s intention
to play for time and
to drag on the
Cyprus problem for
many more years. The
letter states “ Mr.
Anastasiades should
be reminded that he
has no right to
scrap the entire
process and to
restart everything
from scratch at the
expense of Turkish
Cypriots who have
been subjected to
isolation for
decades.” Outlining
the benefits of a
comprehensive
solution to the
Cyprus problem to
all parties
involved, the
organisations warned
that Turkish
Cypriots could not
wait any longer for
a solution and they
wanted to start
shaping their future
without any further
delay. The
international
community is also
urged to do its own
part by taking a
firm stance against
any delaying tactics
in the talks and to
reach a solution at
the latest by early
2014 to help keep
Turkish Cypriots
committed to the
peace process.
LETTER
Mr. Alexander Downer
UN Special Adviser
to the Secretary
General on Cyprus
Nicosia
Dear Mr. Downer,
We would like to
express our
disappointment with
the recent
statements made by
the Greek Cypriot
leader Mr. Nicos
Anastasiades that
any new round of
comprehensive
settlement talks on
the Cyprus issue
will not begin from
where the two sides
left it in 2012. We
believe that this is
a clear indication
of the Greek Cypriot
leader’s intention
to play for time and
drag on the Cyprus
problem for many
more years. Both the
UN and the Parties
have devoted a great
deal of time and
effort to achieve
progress in the
talks. Therefore, it
is our considered
opinion that you
should remind Mr.
Anastasiades that he
has no right to
scrap the entire
progress and restart
everything from
scratch at the
expense of the
future of Turkish
Cypriots who have
for decades and
still are suffering
under embargoes. We
have already lost
more than one year
due to the EU
Presidency of Cyprus
and the presidential
election in the
South. We do
understand that
change in the
leaderships might
require some
adjustments in the
methods and
priorities of the
talks but we cannot
accept any derail
from the main
objective of finding
a comprehensive
solution in 2013.
To put it clearly,
the fate of Turkish
Cypriots and the
peace process should
not be left at the
mercy of the Greek
Cypriot leader.
Turkish Cypriot
people would like to
see the launch of
the reunification
talks from where it
was left by the
previous Greek
Cypriot leader.
Starting the talks
where it was left
will speed up the
solution at a time
when it is most
needed, which is
now. The solution
will lead to the
simultaneous opening
of all ports to all
sides. This will
allow Turkish
Cypriots to better
integrate their
economy as a united
Cyprus into the EU
and will provide
Greek Cypriot ships
immediate access to
the Turkish ports
and markets – a move
that will inject
billions of dollars
to the Greek Cypriot
economy.
Dear Mr. Downer,
Turkish Cypriot
civil society has
been the driving
force behind the
positive changes in
Cyprus in the last
decade.
Nevertheless,
witnessing the Greek
Cypriot leadership
employing delaying
tactics is making it
almost impossible to
keep the Turkish
Cypriot confidence
in the peace process
alive. Turkish
Cypriots have been
living in limbo for
ages despite the
fact that we are
supposed to live on
EU land. We just
cannot wait any
longer because time
is working against a
solution and
deepening the
problems; thus
helping the
status-quo. We want
to start shaping our
future without any
further delay. If
the international
community wants the
Turkish Cypriots to
stay committed to
the peace process,
then it should do
its own part by
taking a firm stance
against any delaying
tactics in the
talks.
Turkish Cypriots
demand an urgent
solution. It is our
considered opinion
that if a solution
is not concluded at
the latest by early
2014, the motivation
and willingness of
the Turkish Cypriots
will diminish beyond
repair.
Turkish Cypriot
Civil Society
Organizations
Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of Commerce
Kıbrıs Türk Ticaret
Odası (KTTO)
Cyprus Turkish
Chamber of Industry
Kıbrıs Türk Sanayi
Odası (KTSO)
Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of
Shopkeepers and
Artisans
Kıbrıs Türk Esnaf ve
Zanaatkarlar Odası
(KTEZO)
Federation of Free
Workers Union
Hür İşçi
Sendikaları
Federasyonu
(HÜR-İŞ)
Cyprus Turkish
Public Servants
Union
Kıbrıs Türk Kamu
Görevlileri
Sendikası (KAMU-SEN)
Cyprus Turkish
Public Workers Trade
Union
Kamu İşçileri
Sendikası
(KAMU-İŞ)
Cyprus Turkish
Building Contractors
Association
Kıbrıs Türk İnşaat
Müteahhitleri
Birliği (KTİMB)
North Cyprus
Hoteliers
Association
Kıbrıs Türk
Otelciler Birliği
(KITOB)
Cyprus Turkish
Tourism and Travel
Agencies Association
Kıbrıs Türk Turizm
ve Seyahat
Acenteleri Birliği
(KITSAB)
Cyprus Turkish
Businessmen
Association
Kıbrıs Türk
İşadamları
Derneği (İŞAD)
North Cyprus Young
Businessmen
Association
Kuzey Kıbrıs Genç
İşadamları
Derneği (GİAD)
Dairy Producers
Union
Süt Ürünleri
İmalatçıları
Birliği (SÜİB)
Stone Quarries
Association
Taşocakçıları
Birliği
Turkish Cypriot Food
Importers
Association
Kıbrıs Türk Gıda
İthalatçıları
Birliği
Cyprus Turkish
Employers
Association
Kıbrıs Türk
İşverenler
Sendikası
CTCI Young
Professionals
KTSO Genç
Profesyoneller
About Us
Established in 1958, the
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Commerce (KTTO) is an
internationally-recognized
organization, representing
the Turkish Cypriot business
community at home and
abroad.
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