Business leaders back Cyprus negotiation process

Business leaders back Cyprus negotiation process

Turkish and Greek chamber of commerce officials discuss the co-operation and opportunities that could come with an end to the division of Cyprus.

Gunay Cerkez, (left) president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce; Arnaldo Abruzzini, (centre) secretary general of EUROCHAMBERS; and Phidias K. Pilides, president of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, shake hands at a March 5th meeting in Brussels. [EUROCHAMBERS]

Business leaders from both portions of Cyprus say co-operation between them can play an important role in ending the island's decades-long stalemate, and they have formally committed to support recently re-launched negotiations.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot politicians met in February for the first time in two years, seeking to resolve a division that has existed for 40 years. On March 5th in Brussels, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the two leading representatives of economic activities in the island, met to discuss ways of contributing to the success of the negotiations.

The meeting of business leaders was held under the auspices of EUROCHAMBERS, a business representative organisation that includes national chambers of commerce from across Europe. The groups adopted a joint statement saying that a comprehensive solution for the Cyprus problem could bring substantial benefits to all segments of the economy and boost the prosperity and welfare of all residents of the island.

"The status quo is indeed unacceptable and its prolongation will have negative consequences for the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The Chambers agree that a settlement would have a positive impact on the entire region, while...