EU Commission Approve Economic Package On Turkish Cyprus

BRUSSELS (CIHAN) - The EU Commission voted anonymously to partially lift the embargo imposed on Turkish Cyprus, Turkish TV reported on Wednesday.
The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Günter Verheugen will hold a press conference to announce the content of the measures.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that the package would be an important move toward ending the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots. "With this move, the EU will see Turkish Cyprus as a distinct country. EU countries may make preferential trade with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), which is recognized only by Turkey, has been subjected to an international embargo and sanctions since 1974. Turkish Cypriot products currently cannot be exported abroad under the name of KKTC.
The European Union Commission will unveil today the package to help to end the international isolation of Turkish Cyprus.
The EU commission proposal will likely allow Turkish Cypriots to export products to European countries.
In his Cyprus report, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the UN Security Council to encourage all nations to eliminate the unnecessary restrictions and obstacles, which are causing the isolation of Turkish Cyprus.
The Organization of the Islamic Conferences (OIC) announced in its final declaration of the Istanbul summit that the OIC would take the necessary steps to put an end to the unfair isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots.
The European Commission has taken various economic and commercial measures to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots who voted heavily in favor of the UN reunification plan despite the overwhelming rejection from the Greek side.
The package will pave the way for direct commercial relations between the KKTC and EU countries. Turkish Cypriot ports will be opened to direct international trade. Goods produced on the Turkish side can be exported to the world under the name of the KKTC without obtaining permission from the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot Administration.
The EU Commission also propose € 259 million in economic aid for the Turkish Cypriots to reward their support for the UN peace plan.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey took control of the northern part of the island in response to a Greek coup, which sought to unite the island with the Greek mainland.
Internationally recognized Greek Cyprus entered the EU on May 1 while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, has not yet received international recognition despite its strong support for the UN peace plan.
The international community venting their frustration at the Greek Cypriot side for rejecting the UN peace plan has decided to reward the Turkish Cypriots. The EU Commission announced it would ease trade restrictions on the Turkish Cypriots. The US administration also announced it will review its position on the Turkish Cypriots.