LEFKOSA - TRNC Council of Ministers said on Wednesday that the aid package of the EU Commission foreseen for Turkish Cypriots didn't serve the target that was stated, adding that ''the claim of improving TRNC economy and contributing to its development is not real.''
TRNC cabinet said that TRNC officials were isolated and were not taken into consideration.
TRNC cabinet assessed the EU package announced for Turkish Cypriots yesterday and took important decisions in economy during their meeting held under the leadership of TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu the same day.
TRNC Council of Ministers Spokesman and Minister of Public Works and Transportation Salih Miroglu said after the meeting that the main desire of TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people was lifting of the embargoes which were implemented on TRNC for years.
''The biggest obstacle in front of TRNC economy is the embargoes implemented by the world and particularly by EU with the encouragement of the Greek Cypriot side,'' Miroglu said adding that the document which was announced by EU Commission yesterday showed that the embargoes didn't end.
''We don't demand financial assistance from EU, we demand unhumanitarian embargoes to be lifted,'' Miroglu said, adding that EU package was a document which came out by the common work of the Greek Cypriot side and EU officials. Miroglu said that the ports in TRNC would not be used due to the package. EU document didn't satisfy the TRNC side, said Miroglu.
TRNC Economy Minister Salih Cosar said that the personal shopping continued by the opening of the border gates between South Cyprus and TRNC and that initiatives for free trade were launched.
(Öª) 04.06.2003