Business groups urge governments for Cyprus peace

NICOSIA

TÜSİAD delegation led by TÜSİAD Chair Muharrem Yılmaz had a meeting with Turkish Cypriot President Derviş Eroğlu. CİHAN photo

Turkish, Greek as well as Southern and Northern Cypriot business organizations have issued a joint statement, urging the four governments to begin negotiations for reaching a peaceful solution to the long-standing Cypriot issue.

The business representatives regard economic consolation on the island as key to regional welfare.
“We, as the leading business organizations of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey call on the two societies in Cyprus to start negotiations on the road to reaching a comprehensive and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem,” read the statement shared by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) on Jan. 9.

The joint statement, released as part of the northern Cyprus visit of a delegation from Turkey’s leading business organization TÜSİAD, also bears the logos of Greek business organization Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) from Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots Business Association (İŞAD) from Turkish Cyprus.

The four institutions dubbed raising international interest in the East Mediterranean as an opportunity for a resolution which could boost a high-level economic cooperation among the sides.

TÜSİAD delegation led by TÜSİAD Chair Muharrem Yılmaz had a meeting with Turkish Cypriot President Derviş Eroğlu and was expected to hold separate meetings with Prime Minister Özkan Yorgancığlu and Foreign Minister Özdil Nami as well.