MEP: GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL ALWAYS TRY TO CREATE CHALLENGES
THE only Turkish Cypriot representing Cyprus in the European Parliament, Niyazi Kızılyürek, an MEP for the Greek Cypriot communist party Akel, made statements on the historic significance of the PDO.
“It would be disrespectful to ‘hellim’ not to emphasise the erosion of the quality of hellim,” he said.
“Hellim was put on our tables without industrial production for years. However, over time, hellim moved away from its traditional qualities.”
Prof Kızılyürek said that the first known reference to hellim dates back to 1554 when the word “calumi” featured in the records of the Venetians.
“Not a single problem that concerns both sides of the island is solved easily in Cyprus because there is no common-interest analysis,” he continued.
“[Some will want to put barriers] on the export route of the Turkish Cypriot producers of hellim. However let’s not forget that there are individuals in the EU who respect the presence of Turkish Cypriots.
“To reach the European market, a population of 450 million, with hellim’s geographic registration and the arrangements made on the Green Line Regulation, means to open up the way for our animal farmers who produce the main ingredient of hellim: milk.
“Greek Cypriots will always try to create challenges. They will provoke the Turkish Cypriot side . . . but we will stay calm and patient.
“In the present case, we begin every race late because the Republic of Cyprus is under the [administration] of Greek Cypriots and the EU produces policies for the benefit of the Greek Cypriots as opposed to the whole of Cyprus. This situation will continue until the Cyprus problem is solved. I wish the challenge was not up to them so much.
“We will see the full part of the glass in this process. If the EU makes this decision knowing and considering our existence, even if these decisions do not open the door exactly the way we want it to, it is still opening the door for us.
“The two decisions on hellim will be a source of joy for Turkish Cypriots who have been producing hellim for generations.”
Prof Kızılyürek said the trade of hellim, which “directly affects 22 per cent of the [TRNC] society and is a source of income to 50,000 people”, is an important step.
There is “excitement” for this development from producers, based on “verbal” research carried out by his representative in North Cyprus, Derya Beyatlı.
However producers, such as the Cyprus Turkish Dairy Producers Cooperative secretary and Cyprus Hamzens Milk and Dairy Products director Zübeyir Songur, were quoted as saying that the “minimum of 51 per cent fresh sheep or goats’ milk, or a mixture, will be challenging to attain” as cow’s milk is easier to source.
Hellim, which currently constitutes one third of the TRNC’s total exports, can open the way for “other meat and dairy products in the future” Prof Kızılyürek suggested.
“I am aware that the Greek Cypriot authorities cause issues with the implementation of the Green Line Regulation at times,” the MEP, who has “brought up this issue to the [European] Commission in a letter”, said.
“The Commission is responsible for ensuring that the EU laws are implemented. As such, it is the Commission’s responsibility to remove any potential obstacles.”
Ms Beyatlı said: “The European Commission will support Turkish Cypriots both to prepare for trade and to identify and remove barriers to trade. We will follow this process too.”