LUXEMBOURG - Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU)-member countries have decided to assist economic development of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
A statement prepared by EU Term President Ireland and approved by the member countries at the EU General Affairs Council's meeting on Monday, said that the EU Council was determined to assist economic development of TRNC which expressed a clear desire for a future within the EU.
The statement noted that a financial assistance of 259 million euros should be released, and the EU Commission should launch necessary initiatives for development of comprehensive projects aiming to provide economic harmony in the island and to bring the two communities in Cyprus closer to each other.
In the statement, the EU foreign ministers vowed to put an end to economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The statement stressed that it was desired to facilitate unification of the island by encouraging Turkish Cypriot community's economic development.
Expressing their satisfaction with efforts of Turkey and Greece, the EU foreign ministers said that they hoped Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot people to become EU citizens as citizens of the United Cyprus.
The statement expressed sorrow over the United Cyprus' not becoming a full member of the EU as a whole, and appreciated efforts of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and his colleagues to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.
Diplomatic sources said that the EU's financial assistance to TRNC was planned to be used in economic, social and cultural projects.
Meanwhile, approval of the Cyprus regulations of the EU Commission envisaging suspension of EU acquisition in northern part of the island in case of the Greek Cypriot side's accession, was postponed to the meeting of the EU on the level of ambassadors on April 28.
(UK) 26.04.2004
LUXEMBOURG - Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU)-member countries have decided to assist economic development of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
A statement prepared by EU Term President Ireland and approved by the member countries at the EU General Affairs Council's meeting on Monday, said that the EU Council was determined to assist economic development of TRNC which expressed a clear desire for a future within the EU.
The statement noted that a financial assistance of 259 million euros should be released, and the EU Commission should launch necessary initiatives for development of comprehensive projects aiming to provide economic harmony in the island and to bring the two communities in Cyprus closer to each other.
In the statement, the EU foreign ministers vowed to put an end to economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The statement stressed that it was desired to facilitate unification of the island by encouraging Turkish Cypriot community's economic development.
Expressing their satisfaction with efforts of Turkey and Greece, the EU foreign ministers said that they hoped Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot people to become EU citizens as citizens of the United Cyprus.
The statement expressed sorrow over the United Cyprus' not becoming a full member of the EU as a whole, and appreciated efforts of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and his colleagues to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.
Diplomatic sources said that the EU's financial assistance to TRNC was planned to be used in economic, social and cultural projects.
Meanwhile, approval of the Cyprus regulations of the EU Commission envisaging suspension of EU acquisition in northern part of the island in case of the Greek Cypriot side's accession, was postponed to the meeting of the EU on the level of ambassadors on April 28.
(UK) 26.04.2004