Eroğlu: “Confirmation of application will give a serious blow to Turkish Cypriot Economy”
President Derviş Eroğlu draw attention to the fact that if the application of the Greek Cypriot side for Hellim registration is accepted with its current state, it will give a serious blow to Turkish Cypriot Economy and will increase the economic challenges of Turkish Cypriot side who are already having difficulties because of the isolations and limitations caused by Greek Cypriot side.
Eroğlu said “This case is obviously against the spirit and promise of the EU decision dated on 26 April 2004, along with the reports coming from UN Secretary Generals that foresights removing the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots”.
President Eroğlu sent a letter to the President of the European Commission Jean Claude Junker on the issue of “Hellim” and mentioned the difficulties that will rise if Greek Cypriot side’s application is approved in its current state and made suggestions.
In his letter Eroğlu indicated that Hellim is a mutual traditional culture of both societies on the island, and that the Turkish Cypriots have equal rights to use the advantages of it too, adding that approximately 16.5% of Turkish Cypriot population earns their life by producing hellim and exporting hellim corresponds to 24% of North Cyprus’s exports.