Still no deal on Turkish Cypriot aid

The two EU regulations for the financing of the Turkish Cypriots and the direct trade are still pending, since a COREPER meeting in Brussels did not manage to break the deadlock.

Deliberations at COREPER were short and took place during a luncheon. When asked by the British Permanent Representative if he had anything to say, Finnish Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn blamed the Turkish side for the new deadlock, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Rehn noted that over the past few days he had prepared a draft statement, having discussed the issue with both sides.

He pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side had accepted the draft statement and had said it was ready to support the financing regulation, but the Turkish Cypriot side not only rejected it but threatened to cut off any cooperation with the European Commission if it was adopted.

Rehn said that after these developments he would not be submitting the draft statement, which connected the financial assistance to the Turkish Cypriots with the Famagusta port, currently closed due to the Turkish occupation, and the status of Varosha, also under occupation, in order to protect the property rights of the legitimate inhabitants, according to the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

Cyprus’ Permanent Representative Ambassador Nicos Emiliou, according to sources, said that the deadlock clearly indicated that the Turkish Cypriots and Ankara were to blame for the situation because they wanted the direct trade regulation to remain pending as a form of pressure on Nicosia.

Consequently, the British presidency closed the meeting and refrained from saying what it would be doing till the end of the year, when its term expires.

Community sources said that it was now quite unlikely to see any developments before the end of the British presidency and that it appeared the regulations would be handed over to the Austrian presidency.

If this happens, the Turkish Cypriots will lose 120 million euros from the 259 provided for by the financing regulation, due to the expiry of the deadline.