turkey joins arab states in free trade-any good for trnc??

ang1706


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 570

Message Posted:
11/06/2010 21:44

Have just watched Lebanese news and Turkey has joined Syria,Jordan and Lebanon in a free trade agreement.

Im not exactly sure what this means, but I ask will it benefit the TRNC?



But Turkey is certainly looking eastwards so maybe they are either keeping all options open or are slowly getting disenchanted with EU and looking eastwards!

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
11/06/2010 22:22

it must be remembered that the wto agreements limit import taxes to 7 per cent:

so that the main barriers to trade are therefore political, administrative and cultural



the three arab countries are not big players, but any increase in trade is useful

to some extent turkey will need to look east as its hopes for joining the eu dwindle,

also the cost of its disintegrating relationship with israel must be taken into account



for turkey to really look east as you put it ang, we are talking russia and iran...

and the potential for sending "westerners" some uncomfortable signals lies therein

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
11/06/2010 22:33

but to answer your specific question about the trnc ang, cannot see much change there



for all the huff and puff about trade and transport links with these three small states,

you can be certain nicosia hovers ready to complain to mummy eu about all new ventures



and at the end of the day syria, lebanon and jordan have to think about their

wealthy "european" customers first and foremost



is this just a sad lesson in realpolitik: but was it ever otherwise?



no the best prospect for the trnc relates to the stalled ownership campaign and direct trade

ang1706


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 570

Message Posted:
12/06/2010 13:16

Agree in principle with all the above comments.



However 'small acorns grow into ..............'



The money that is pouring into Lebanon from Saudi and the other Arab States is astounding- every road and major building project is funded by these countries.

Downside on this, is that the same Arab Countries are snapping up properties and prices are rising at an amazing if not susainable rate.

Chinese goods are here as the Lebanese are great traders (well their forebears were the Phonecians).

If there is to be Free Trade then I would not fully dismiss it as it can only go one way.

My only real concern is that if it does happen will the TRNC accept it and not try to price them out of the market by stupid excessive Custom Charges and line only a few pockets or make it difficult to operate.

The EXPATS in business here know exactly what I mean there!!

I however remain optomistic and hope that in a few years TRNC will be amongst Arab Trading partners on an equal basis.

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
12/06/2010 23:03

looking behind the headlines, south lebanon is the homeland of hezbollah,

the militant shiite armed group: admitedly things are quiet on that front,

even as rockets still sporadically sail over the fence from hamas-controlled gaza



jordan is a small rather poorish country and only has sea access on the gulf of aqaba



syria is a different kettle of fish:

it has very solid links with iran while russia has re-activated its old naval base at tartus



noneless and please excuse this middle-eastern style pun, I just do not believe

that north cyprus' "redemption" will be ushered in by new arab trading partners



except for egypt with 85 million, all nearby arab states are small and not well off,

...as I said they all must keep a weather-eye open so as not to displease the eu:

here we are still in "gc tail wagging eu dog" territory



but after a final collapse of the gc "properties" campaign in february,

the trnc may now look ahead to the direct trade regulation's implementation

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
12/06/2010 23:15

Where's that damn ferry from Famagusta to Lebanon as promised last year? I want to be on its inaugural trip! Another false promised lie!



Richard

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
13/06/2010 08:58

Israel is coming to break the embargo, which should make the Roc happy. Anyone know if they are bringing us aid?



Patientia est a donum superum

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
13/06/2010 19:40

troodo,



I very much doubt "israel" as you call this one group is coming anywhere near cyprus



most states are very selective when it comes to the "moral high ground" as you will appreciate

...but "mhg" arguments are nonetheless very useable in terms of pointing out others' many failings,

especially in reaching the less well-informed, the naiive or the already-mind-made-up



I spent much of last year arguing on cyprus 44 both against any quick fix for the cyprus "problem",

...or the "cometh the hour cometh the man" codswallop encircling poor mr talat



like "mhg" arguments the underlying causes of the cyprus "dispute" or the "palestine" dispute

can only be fully appreciated by looking at the deeper factors and the partisan power play of all actors,

internal and external

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
13/06/2010 20:47

turkey have the USA and RUSSIA in theyre pockets , USA want to have been using theyre airstrips , RUSSIA wants to build an oil pipeline thru turkey into europe , turkey doesnt need the eu , they are probably the biggest player in all things military and oil related at this moment , and they know it , why would they want to join a crumbling economy ?

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
13/06/2010 23:54

rowlo,



turkey doesn't need the eu if the price is cyprus

and turkey can do very well outside, it already enjoys free trade with europe



while many specialists believe the euro cannot possibly survive,

at least as the currency of choice for the club-med states



of course this will provoke another recession for one and all

but as the pop lyric goes: when you're down the only way out is up



andre

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
14/06/2010 01:37

rowlo

Russia is in nobodies pocket,although it might suit them to let others believe they are.

Get into bed with the Russians and you had better keep your wits about you,they are no ones fools

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
14/06/2010 13:17

message 11 Quote

Get into bed with the Russians and you had better keep your wits about you,they are no ones fools



your right there

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
17/06/2010 12:37

Lets us hope that the Israeli flotilla arrives fully loaded with passion fruit. Judging by the reports from the southern lands, apparently their population is dropping and the men have lost their passion.



Perhaps TRNC economy can pick up some profits and at the same time help our greek cypriot cousins in the south to maintain their population.