'Turkish shipping ban is everyone's problem'

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

28 Sep 2007

THE TURKISH ban on Greek Cypriot ships is a problem not only for Cyprus but also for the EU, and for Turkey, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot said yesterday. Barrot was speaking at the opening of the Maritime Cyprus conference in Limassol where he said the Turkish ban, imposed in 1987 must be tackled. Turkey is obliged to lift the ban under the Anakara customs union protocol with the EU but has so far ignored its obligations under the protocol. “EU shipping in general and Cyprus shipping in particular has to cope with the handicap of the access to Turkish ports. Please be assured that I will put all my efforts in solving this issue. It is not only a problem for Cyprus, it is problem for Europe and it is also a problem of Turkey,” Barrot said.  The EU Commissioner congratulated Cyprus on “succeeding well in the top challenge of the fierce competition that exists in the world shipping markets” and acknowledged that with the addition of the Cyprus fleet to that of the EU, the Union now represents the biggest collective force in influencing global maritime developments.  Cyprus currently has the third largest fleet in the EU after Greece and Malta, and ranks tenth in the world. Maritime Cyprus 2007 is the tenth conference since the event was first held in 1989. It is considered one of the three most important maritime events worldwide. Around 800 delegates are participating in this year’s Conference, which ends tomorrow. Communications and Works Minister Maria Malaktou-Pampalli yesterday welcomed Barrot’s statements, saying they were “very important”. The Cyprus Maritime 2007 Award was awarded this year to the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) for its contribution in encouraging ship owners, seamen and the general public to take action in preventing sea pollution.