Kıbrıs Türk İnşaat Müteahhitleri Birliği (KTİMB) Başkanı Cafer Gürcafer, Zirve Kıbrıs’ta dün Bâlâ Kayadelen’in konuğu olarak EÖP’ün Ankara temaslarını anlattı, ülkenin gündemine dair yaşanan gelişmeleri değerlendirdi.

Gürcafer, Covid-19 pandemisinin KKTC’de erken fark edildiğini ve sağlık önlemleri çerçevesinde uzun süren bir kapanma ile salgının Mart 2020’de önünün alındığını kaydetti.

Ancak, sonrasında çok doğru öngörülerle hareket edilmediğini kaydeden Gürcafer, gelinen noktada sıfırın tükendiğini belirtti.

Gürcafer, “Gerek muhalefet gerekse tüm paydaşlarla bir araya gelinip, birlikte karar alınmalı ve bu kararlar birlikte uygulamaya konulmalıydı. Ancak sanırım biraz ego ön plana çıktı ve biz bunu başaramadık. Geldiğimiz noktada da artık sıfırı tükettik. İnsanların ‘ak akçe kara gün dostudur’ misali birikmişleri vardı, ilk kapanmanın olduğu dönemde, bu birikimler kullanılarak bugüne kadar geçim idame ettirildi. Bugünün dünden farkı, o kötü gün için ayrılan birikimler de tüketilmiş noktadır. İşsizlik kendini çok daha fazla hissettirmeye başladı” dedi.

Süreçte avantajların değerlendirilip ekonominin doğru planlanmadığını ifade eden Gürcafer, “Evet, bir çaresizlik var. Bizim dünyaya kıyasla çaresizliğimiz daha fazladır. Çünkü bizim Merkez Bankamız yoktur, para basamayız. Bu bir dezavantajdır ama küçük ve bir ada ülkesi olmak bir avantajdır. Bunları iyi analiz edip doğru düzgün öngörülerde bulunarak ekonomiyi planlama yoluna gitmedik. Süreci birlikte planlayıp, birlikte göğüslemedik” diye konuştu.

“‘Çok yakında aşılanıyoruz’ diyebiliriz”

Cafer Gürcafer, bugün devleti yöneten iktidar yapısına bakıldığında ‘size bakmayacağız, tencerenizi kaynatmanız konusunda bir projemiz yok, katkımız da olmayacak. Alacaklarımızı da almaya devam edeceğiz. Çünkü biz de bunları sizden alarak kendi ihtiyaçlarımızı karşılayacağız’ şeklinde bir görüntünün olduğunu belirtti.

Böyle bir yapı varken akıl, ekonomik örgütlerin “devletten bir şey beklememeliyiz” gerçeğini kabullendiğini ve “kendi başımızayız ve bunun için neler yapabiliriz” konusunu konuştuğunu söyleyen Gürcafer, “Yaptığımız çalışmalar çerçevesinde ortaya çıkan netice ise aşı kilittir” dedi.

Bugün KKTC’de 10 binlerce insanın açlıkla karşı karşıya olduğunu dile getiren Cafer Gürcafer, daha kötüsünün olmaması için çaba sarf etmek gerektiğini söyledi.

Gürcafer, “Ama çok fazla çaba sarf eden yok, çaba sarf edenleri de eleştiren çok. Bu şekilde bir yere varamayız. Bu dönem birbirimizi kaldırıp, kaldırıp yere vurma dönemi değil, tüm farklılıklarımızı bir kenara bırakıp, birlikte mücadele etmemiz gereken bir dönemdir” diye konuştu.

KTİM Başkanı Gürcafer, Başbakan Ersan Saner’in “önümüzdeki 2 ay içerisinde 20 yaş üstündeki nüfusu aşılamayı hedefliyoruz” açıklamalarına da işaret ederek aşı ile ilgili birtakım gelişmeler olduğuna vurgu yaptı.

Gürcafer, “Tahmin ederim ki geldiğimiz nokta artık o kadar da kötü değil. Sanırım aşı ile ilgili birtakım gelişmeler var. Sayın Başbakan da sinyalleri verdi. Zaten EÖP’ün Ankara ziyaretinde de bu hususta bir takım şeyler netleşmişti. ‘Çok yakında aşılanıyoruz’ diyebiliriz” şeklinde konuştu.

“Tehdit altındayız. Bu süreçte elimizden gelen gayreti ortaya koymamız lazımdır”

Gürcafer EÖP’ün Ankara temaslarına ilişkin de değerlendirmelerde bulundu.

KTİMB Başkanı, EÖP Dönem Sözcüsü Cafer Gürcafer, ziyaret çerçevesinde TC. Cumhurbaşkanı Yardımcısı Fuat Oktay ile KKTC ekonomisinin pandemi dönemi ve sonrasında nasıl ayağa kaldırılabileceği ve sürdürülebilir bir yapıya nasıl kavuşturulabileceğini konuştuklarını ve çok verimli bir toplantı yaptıklarını söyledi.

Gürcafer, Ankara temasları çerçevesinde, Türkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birliği, Ankara Ticaret Odası ve Türkiye Müteahhitler Birliği ile de bir görüşme yaptıklarını söyledi.

Gürcafer, Ankara’daki bu STÖ’ler ile yaptıkları görüşmede KKTC’nin sürdürülebilir sosyal ekonomik ve sağlıklı bir yapıya kavuşturulabilmesi için neler yapılabileceğinin masaya yatırılması gerektiğini konuştuklarını kaydetti.

Karayolları ve TC. Sanayi Bakanlığında da birer toplantı gerçekleştiğini söyleyen KTİMB Başkanı Cafer Gürcafer, tüm görüşmelerde doğru ifade edebilme fırsatı bulduklarını, aşı konusunda öngörülerinin ve önerilerinin kabul ve destek bulduğunu ifade etti.

Gürcafer, şunları aktardı: “Bizim dediğimiz şuydu; ‘kapatın, kaynaklarınızın tümünü ortaya koyun, bizim de varsa imkanlarımız biz de koyalım. Bu savaş döneminde hane halkına göre bir adil katkı dağılım yapalım. Devlet olarak ihtiyaç olan parayı gidi, borçlanın’ Tabi bu hem hükümetin hem de küresel ekonomi patronlarının işine gelmezdi.

Neticede yanlış yönetildi ama geldik tünelin ucuna. ‘Tünelin ucunda ışık görünüyor ve dünya, ekonomik olarak aldığı yaraları sarmak için program yapıyor. Biz de plan programımızı yapalım dedik. Bu işin yolu, kilit aşıdır. Bize olanak sağlayın, paramızı verelim, alalım toplum için veya siz gidin Türkiye’ye bunun doğrusunu anlatın ve bu aşıları erken almamızı sağlayın’ dedik. Biz bu görüşmeleri yaparken TC. Cumhurbaşkanı Yardımcısı Sayın Fuat Oktay ve ekibinin geleceği bilgisini aldık, buna umut bağladık. Sayın Oktay ve ekibi geldi, yollar ile ilgili yatırımların başlayacağına ilişkin açıklamalar yapıldı. Aşı ile ilgili ‘merak etmeyin Türkiye Cumhuriyeti sizi yarı yolda bırakmaz’ dendi. Söyledikleri de doğruydu ama bizim anlatılmasını istediğimiz bu değildi. Çok daha kapsamlı, detaylı bir sunum yapılmasıydı olmadı. Olmayınca biz görüşme talep ettik.

Birkaç gün içinde randevu verildi gittik. Çok faydalı toplantılar yaptık. Görüyorum ki bizim gidişimizi abuk sabuk eleştirilerle yıpratmaya çalışanlar var. Şu anda içerisinde bulunduğumuz süreç her saniye hepimizin ailesinin hayatını tehdit eden bir süreçtir. Bu süreçte elimizden gelen gayreti ortaya koymamız lazımdır.”

President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA) Cafer Gürcafer, noted that the Turkish Republic has always been on the side of the Turkish Cypriot people in their struggle for existence and that in this context, financial assistance and investments have been made within a framework of the protocols signed with Turkey every year.

Stating that despite all the contributions made, the TRNC has failed to be a state standing on its own feet, and said, “This outcome shows that this relationship should be questioned.”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer asserted that, as it has been in the past, Turkey is with the Turkish Cypriots during the pandemic and that Turkey is trying to meet our needs within the scheme of what is possible from its own resources.

Gürcafer said, “The visit of Mr. Vice President Fuat Oktay and his delegation is an example of the work done to support and assist the Turkish Cypriots during their difficult days, both financially and morally. Despite this, I would like to clearly state that the reason for the visit creating such a disappointment in our real economic sector, which is facing a true economic collapse, is the lack of vision from the TRNC officials.”

Gürcafer spoke out that, there is an absence of any project or a vision from the TRNC which would enable the facilities that have been or will be put forward by the Republic of Turkey to positively affect the social and economic life and contribute towards creating a sustainable model in our country, or to become a foundation for transformation.

Cafer Gürcafer saying that, “We are almost displaying an image of the TRNC waiting for would be visitors bearing gifts”, continued his statement stating: “Our officials’ attempts to cover up their lack of vision by presenting such visits as economic liberation causes us to be disappointed and our reactions to be misunderstood. In this context, while greeting respectfully the assistance offered to our society during these difficult days by motherland Turkey, I would like to mention that there are other things that need to be made a priority in order to emerge from this economic collapse. “

Cafer Gürcafer, the President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBIA), noted that there are business people who have made great profits in a very short time in this country, who have not paid taxes, and that there are public service employees who receive salaries without turning up to work.

Gürcafer said that it is the duty of both trade unions and economic organizations to struggle against them.

Cafer Gürcafer said, “Mixing hay with straw in this struggle only serves the populism that causes the real damage to the country. Especially during this period, it is very important not to be confused about this” and drew attention to the importance of being in solidarity in order to see the light.

CTBCA President Gürcafer responded to the criticism against Ali Başman, a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce, who had said, “There should be cuts from public service salaries to create resources for private sector employees who cannot work due to the lockdown.”

Gürcafer said, “Başman family has contributed to the development of the country by paying its share of taxes for years, creating job opportunities for hundreds of our people, and is a family whose origins and destiny is obvious. Obviously we mixing hay with straw yet again, ”he said.

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA) and the Term Spokesperson for the Economic Organizations Platform (EOP), evaluated the new economic package, prepared under the title of “Emergency Measures Package”.

Stating that economic organizations have been evaluating the issue since the first day of the epidemic, Gürcafer said, “At this juncture, there is a real economic sector left alone with its fate. Economic organizations have resigned to the reality that ‘we should not expect anything from the state.’ We are on our own and we talk about what we could be doing about it. Therefore, the issue of vaccination has been on the agenda of economic organizations for some time and we are endeavouring to bring the vaccine directly to our country ourselves.

Cafer Gürcafer reiterated his warning that if by April percent of the society was not vaccinated, at the very least 40, and with the approval of the Health Supreme Council, the country is not opened without a quarantine requirement for visitors, serious bankruptcies will occur.

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer was a guest of the program “Concerning Today” prepared and presented by Nazar Erişkin on Cyprus Genç TV and made very important statements pertaining to topical issues.

 “There is no lockdown, there is chaos in the country, no one is adhering to the rules”

Gürcafer stated that the vaccine ought to arrive in the country as soon as possible and vaccination should be done as part of a program.

Noting that the current lockdown does not serve any purpose in the current context, Cafer Gürcafer said, “This closure should be of some use. I am listening to our doctors. At present, the lockdown is not serving any purpose, there is no lockdown anyway. There is chaos in the country. No one is adhering to the prohibitions or rules that have been put in place. The streets are full of people. see that the measures being implemented do not serve a longer-term purpose. This is driving many people, especially in the business world, towards feeling a lot more anxious.”

“A crisis desk must be established”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said that the government does not have an exit plan from this crisis, and that precautions are taken daily by rule of thumb.

Emphasizing that a crisis desk should be established immediately in the country, Gürcafer explained the management criteria for this desk and what needs to be done as follows: “A crisis desk with competent authority for making decisions should be formed immediately. Stakeholders, government and opposition should also have a seat at this table. All decisions should be taken as one and implemented collaboratively.

“Like having a mental eclipse”

What is being done now is no more than keeping up with tradition. Households with two breadwinners are hard pressed to see the end of the month on a monthly salary of 5,000 TL each. You tell these people, ‘take 1000 TL and eke out a living for your family’. To propose this is to me is like having a mental eclipse and it is really embarrassing. Yes, we will suffer this pain, maybe we will suffer more, but there must be a plan, a target.”

“Need to be one voice”

Stating that EOP has set a goal at this juncture, Gürcafer said, “We will find the vaccine, pay for it, bring it, and aim to open up once the society is vaccinated.”

Stating that there is a need for common sense and to have one voice within this process, Gürcafer said, “Apart from the government, there is another voice from the opposition, a different one from the unions, and yet another from the business world. We need to demonstrate that we have common sense during this period.”

“The state is like a business developing marketing techniques”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer harshly criticized the new economic package prepared under the name of ‘Emergency Measures Package’

Gürcafer stated, “Us to the government; ‘do not give it to us, but truly, there are many in need in this country. We said go, source something from wherever you can and give what you find to these people.’’ He went on to expresses, ‘’Yet, at the point we are in, there is a package put forward just so that a package could be announced. I wish it had never been announced. Today, the people are viewing this as ‘my state is exhausted’.’’

Saying that the state is acting like a business developing marketing techniques, Cafer Gürcafer stated, “It is as if our distress is about the rental income of the foundations, or the income of the Provident Fund. Tens of thousands of people are facing hunger in the country. We need to develop a project about how these people will earn a livelihood. Their position is; ‘What is the point of you covering the 60 percent of my insurance premium? My business has gone under, not operating. I cannot give bread to my employee’.”

Gürcafer said, “There will be an adjustment regarding rental arrangements, and debts due on premium payments, but first we need to determine the damage and reliably forecast when it will end. For this, we have to do work that is erudite. This is work which requires a serious workshop with the participation of stakeholders, especially with the participation of economists.

“We are threatening the banking sector as well”

Reminding that during crisis such as this all countries put forth facilities in order to keep the real economic sector alive as much as possible as well not to have public service employees starve, Cafer Gürcafer noted that whereas in the TRNC, we were being directed to the banks.

Expressing that the real economic sector is not in a state where it can handle its debts, Gürcafer said, “Once this war is over and the damage is measured, determining the debt burden and the true state of the enterprises requires serious work. We are currently threatening the banking sector in our country as well.’’

Stating that it is essential to have the wheels of the economy turning again, Gürcafer was critical when saying, “Currently, credit is being issued to meet the need to make a living. It is not a business loan or a lending for a business to recover. This only serves to humiliate businesses.”

“No money problem”

Noting that the problem with reaching the vaccine is not to do with money, CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer stated that the important thing is to get the right vaccine and in the right way.

Cafer Gürcafer noted that they are in contact with one of the 23 national companies which market the Sinovac vaccine and that they are trying to conclude this exercise as quickly as possible. “We will get it in coordination with our Ministry of Health,” he said.

Gürcafer, said: “If 300-400 thousand vaccines would arrive in the country, these will go to Turkey first, over there, they will be controlled for a duration of 14 days, and only then come to us. Such is the vaccine supply we are after. It’s not about money. For example, we said, as the CTBCA, ‘we make a payment of $2-2.5 million and purchase’. The Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry and the Hoteliers Association said the same. There is no problem with money. The problem is to get the right vaccine and in the right way. Frankly, we did not want to be disrespectful. Turkey said it would give us the vaccine. For one to go searching for a vaccine abroad while Turkey was trying to furnish us with the vaccine would not be an appropriate approach. Therefore, we said to the government, ‘clarify with Turkey how much of the vaccine will be given to us and by when’. We said to say; ‘Turkey, if you give us vaccines all at once, that way you and us both will be rid us being an economic burden on you, and we could have our economy recover. If you have the means, provide it to us.’ In as much when we know this, we may be accountable to our people. Therefore, we resolved to purchase the vaccine by paying 1-2 dollars more.”

“The criticism is baseless and very ugly”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer underlined that these vaccines will be used to vaccinate the country within the national programme framework, under the control of the Ministry of Health.

Chastising statements such as ‘the rich will be vaccinated, the poor will remain’, Gürcafer said, “While we as the business world are at the point of saying ‘let us meet the vaccination requirements of the poor people and not demand any money from them’; the criticism is baseless and very ugly. Even if the owner of a hotel is vaccinated, that hotel cannot be opened unless 300-400 employees are vaccinated too. Perhaps and in so much that by activating private hospitals the vaccination process could be accelerated; this too is very important.’’

The decision of the Council of Ministers to open banks also sparked a reaction from the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association.

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA), stated that disrespect rather than respect has started to increase against the decisions being taken, “The companies are discussing civil disobedience among themselves. This is not good. This is a sign that you are not on the right track.”

Gürcafer warned, “Watch out! Tension has started to rise…’’

The statements of CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer are exactly as follows:

Disrespect rather than respect towards your decisions has started to increase. Firms are discussing civil disobedience among themselves. This is not good. This is a sign that you are not on the right track. You are seeking a balance in your effort to fight against the epidemic but the real economic sector is not included in your search. You are going to borrow five hundred million for your own expenditure. I ask you; where do we fit in with this five hundred million? Where is the real economic sector? The real economic sector, which has sustained this country with its contribution and investment for years, is dying and is in need of treatment. You are still trying to milk it. We are all closed, but you are opening the banks. Why is that? We cannot collect money from our clients because we do not work, but you are demanding it from us. Your tax officers have already started calling the accountants of our companies. The cheques are knocking at the door. Watch out, tension has started to rise and you are the cause of it.

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA) and the current term spokesperson for the Economic Organizations Platform (EOP), evaluated the contacts made in Ankara by the EOP when speaking with the Bayrak Radio & Television (BRT) and further elaborated on the contacts to be held today.

Economic Organizations Platform members comprised by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce, the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association and the North Cyprus Hoteliers Association, came together in Ankara with the Vice President of Turkey Fuat Oktay, and with the heads of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Chambers & Exchanges Union yesterday at the Turkish Presidential Complex.

The Economic Organizations Platform (EOP) will continue with its discussions in Ankara today.

Cafer Gürcafer, President of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association, will also hold a meeting with the General Director of Highways of Turkey today at 16.30.

Similarly, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) President Turgay Deniz and Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry (CTCI) President Candan Avunduk will attend a meeting at Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology.

“We discussed all the details and had a very productive meeting”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said that the discussion with the Deputy President of the Republic of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, was about how the economy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)  could be revived during and after the pandemic, how it could be restored to a sustainable footing, and that they had a very productive meeting.

Gürcafer explained the issues discussed at the meeting with Oktay as follows:

‘’We went with Mr. Oktay through all the details explicitly of what could be done for the TRNC economy, what is being done right, what is being done wrong, and what should not be done. We talked about how important planning is for the economy and that we had not made our plans to determine the necessary resources. We talked about why national planning is important. Of course, we previously had a reaction about the tenders being issued in Ankara, we touched on that too. We discussed how important it is to create organized industrial zones and how crucial trade-based sites are for the tradesmen. We talked about the need for socio-economic planning in order to progress, about the necessity of a long-term enterprise that will not change whenever a transfer of power occurs in government. Of course, technical delegations from our country always go to Ankara and work there. They know the issues expressed by them, but we have also discussed extensively how the real sector and its managers’ view is fundamental to understand as they evaluate the situation with their hearts and minds. Frankly, we were well received and listened to. I can say that we conducted an outcome focused technical workshop which bore results ”

“Contacts will continue”

CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said that, within the framework of the contacts in Ankara, they also had meetings with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, with the Ankara Chamber of Commerce and with the Building Contractors Association of Turkey.

Gürcafer noted that, in their meetings with these NGOs in Ankara, they talked about the need to have a discourse on what could be done in order for the TRNC to have a sustainable social, economic and healthy composition.

Stating that the contacts of the Economic Organizations Platform (EOP) in Ankara will continue today, Gürcafer gave the following details with respect to these meetings:

“Today at 16.30 TC. I will have a meeting with the General Manager of Highways. This meeting will be about how to make it possible for the Turkish Cypriot Contractors to build our roads or what could be done to extend the tenders for outside bidders, to understand what technical obstacles exist for this, and to open up the debate about the technical or structural problems that cause this to arise in Ankara. Also, today our president of the Chamber of Industry and our president of the Chamber of Commerce are attending a meeting at the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Turkey regarding the formation of special industrial zones.”

“This bridge must not collapse”

Emphasizing that a very good relationship was established and a crucial bridge was built within the scope of Ankara contacts, CTBCA President Cafer Gürcafer said that it is critically important to maintain this bridge.

Cafer Gürcafer said: “We emphasized how important it is to work together. In fact, the demand from the other side was likewise. The current optics are that ‘one side does – the other side obeys’; this is not favourable to anyone and it damages both sides. It also causes a significant degree of mutual misunderstanding. Working together leads to outcomes that are accepted at all times and by all concerned. An appropriate form of dialogue was needed for this. We think this form of a dialogue will span a long period. We have our own internal issues. We have problems with our own state and government that we need to talk and resolve irrespective of who holds the power. It is not right to shift this to Ankara. We ought never do that. The issue we are focusing on is determining what is possible for us to do in order to raise the TRNC economically and to transform it into a sustainable footing. In this context, we talked about how we can do our best with the Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Fuat Oktay who already shares our desire.  Specifically, we discussed the meaning of issuing tenders in Nicosia for building roads worth up to 1 billion TL, tenders that feed 60-70 sub-sectors and we questioned why this could not be done. We talked about what could be done to make this happen. It is crucial that we keep this up because any incorrect information, misinformation, always produces the wrong results that are subsequently difficult to reverse. Therefore, it is critical to keep the relationship firm and to be organized in a way that serves this purpose.”

“All our predictions and suggestions about the vaccine were supported and accepted”

Touching on the subject of the vaccine, Gürcafer stated that all of their predictions and suggestions were supported and accepted.

Reminding the Prime Minister Ersan Saner’s upcoming visit to Ankara on Friday, he said, “I expect that more concrete information will be released to the public about vaccination”.

The explanation of Gürcafer on vaccination is exactly as follows: “It is very important to correctly explain what our vaccine request means. If the TRNC cannot be opened up, the scale of the wreckage that will emerge would be around 5-6 billion (TL), if not more. If this wreckage emerges, it will be laid in front of Turkey’s door anyway. Therefore, what needs to take place in order to prevent this from being realised was discussed. The vaccine and vaccination; opening the doors of TRNC to people who have been vaccinated for tourism is very important. If this is not adequately explained, it would seem like the Anatolian people’s right to vaccination is being taken away. What I am at liberty to state with respect to vaccination; it is very, very positive. All our predictions and suggestions found acceptance and support. On Friday, the Prime Minister is coming to Ankara for the signing of the protocol. I expect that more concrete information will be issued to the public in this regard on Friday.’’