BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission is expected to announce its package containing trade and economic measures aiming to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.
They indicated that the package foresaw a financial assistance of 259 million Euros for Turkish Cypriots for a period of three years, in order to end economic and social imbalance between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. EU will pay 6 million Euro in financial assistance in 2004, 114 million in 2005 and 139 million in 2006. The assistance was expected to be extended directly through offices to be opened in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and not through Greek Cypriot government, the same sources stated.
The package aims to end imbalance between Turkish and Greek Cypriots and facilitate reunification of the island, and therefore foresees social and economic development of TRNC, and improve local infrastructure.
The sources said that especially business circles and trade organizations were expected to make use of the facilitation to be provided by the package.
EU Commission Spokesman Reijo Kemppinen earlier told a press conference that the Commission would discuss the package of measures for Turkish Cypriots in its Wednesday's meeting.
Kemppinen added that EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen would hold a press conference to officially make the package public after the commission meeting.
(BRC-ULG) 06.07.2004