Cyprus awaits EU reaction on measures for TCs

The Cypriot government is anticipating the comments of the EU Presidency and the Commission over the new measures to economically strengthen Turkish Cypriots.
Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said that the new measures, as well as the existing ones and any other proposed in the future to promote the economic integration through the economic upgrading of the Turkish Cypriots.
“The aim of the Turkish side is the political upgrading of the illegal regime. The talk on the so called isolation of Turkish Cypriots is merely a long-drawn Turkish song and its audience is gradually decreasing”.
The Spokesman said there is a possibility that new measures will be submitted for Turkish Cypriots in the future.
“In anticipation of reaction and any other remarks by the EU presidency and the Commission, we believe it is not advisable to make public the measures which we have proposed”, Pashiardis said, adding that the Turkish Cypriots will be informed on the measures after they are made known to the EU.
The Spokesman further said that it is possible that some of these measures will be implemented unilaterally by the government, adding that from there on, it is up to the Turkish Cypriot side to accept them.
The government of Cyprus submitted last week to the German EU presidency and the European Commission its new proposals for the financial support of the Turkish Cypriot community, with the ultimate goal to contribute to the reunification of Cyprus.
The new proposals were submitted on Saturday by Foreign Minister George Lillikas on the sidelines of the Informal EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that took place in Bremen, Germany.
The Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in May 2004.