Did the occupiers start work on a changeover to the euro?

Technical work has begun in the occupied territories to begin the process of transitioning from the Turkish pound to the euro, according to what Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci told NTV, who said yesterday at a meeting of leaders agreed to set up a committee on economic harmonization work, while experts will also come from the EU for this work.

Speaking to NTV, Mr Akinci said that at yesterday's meeting they had agreed to set up a committee on economic harmonization work and that the aim was to complete preparations for the changeover to the euro as soon as the experts arrived from the EU.

Mustafa Akinci said that the changeover to the euro, the customs union and other harmonization processes are not tasks that can be left for after a referendum in which the people will vote "yes". "This is a process and in the first stage the changeover to the euro and the customs union will be set up. "Then the alignment with the European acquis on health, environment and other issues will be on the agenda," he said.

On the issue of the transition from the Turkish lira to the euro, he said that there will be consultations on the technical details with Turkey, adding that the goal is to repeal the regulation on the "green line".

Mr Akinci said talks on the changeover to the euro had been discussed in Brussels and New York, and that customs union and European officials had promised to speed up the meeting, with leaders agreeing to set up an ad hoc committee yesterday.

Source: KYPE