The Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Turgay Deniz said on Thursday that the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots and embargoes imposed on them were not hampering efforts to reach a solution but were also discouraging them for a settlement.

Deniz’s remarks came after meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s recently appointed envoy to Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin.

According to a statement from the chamber, Deniz and his delegation congratulated Holguin and wished her success in her role as the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General.

Deniz who highlighted the pioneering role of the chamber in supporting the United Nations plan for the reunification of Cyprus in 2004, stated that despite the fact an overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots had voted in favour of the UN sponsored Annan Plan the Cyprus issue remains unresolved for the past 60 years.

He expressed the belief that the resolution of the Cyprus issue should not rely solely on negotiations, emphasizing that a comprehensive and fair solution lies in the economic parity of both communities.

Deniz emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce was an economic organization with a focus on advocating economic development, promoting trade, growth, and welfare opportunities.

He also pointed to the need to focus on lifting isolation and embargoes on economic activities such as direct trade, direct flights, and access to financial instruments to achieve a comprehensive solution, stating that all international isolation and embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot community do not contribute to a solution but rather alienated them from the perspective of a resolution.

He underscored that enabling Turkish Cypriots to participate in international trade under unimpeded and fair conditions would not only promote economic growth but also contribute to building trust between the two communities in Cyprus and support reconciliation efforts.