Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (17.03.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker expressing his worries on the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to designate halloumi/ hellim as a product with Protected Designation of Origin.
Eroglu claimed in his letter that many difficulties will arise for the Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers in case the European Commission accepted the application, claiming that this will further increase the isolations “already felt on the north”.
He stated that halloumi is a common product in Cyprus and alleged that the file submitted by the Republic of Cyprus creates discrimination against the Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers who will be suffering great financial damage. He also called upon the “justice and impartiality” of the Commission and asked that the Commission take into consideration the special conditions in the island on the issue, so that no any political issues to arise because of this development.
Finally, he stated that designating halloumi/ hellim as a product with Protected Designation of Origin is a potential for cooperation between the two sides in Cyprus and said that the control of halloumi in the occupied area of Cyprus should be conducted by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.