LEFKOSA - Turkish Cypriots expected European Union (EU) draft regulations to be approved as a step to end their isolation, the Foreign Ministry of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday.
A statement of the Ministry said that the EU did not meet Turkish Cypriots' expectations in its yesterday's (Monday's) meeting, and the decision was left to the meeting in September.
The statement said, ''as it is known, financial assistance regulations prepared by the EU Commission after April 24th simultaneous referenda, aiming to lift unjust embargoes on Turkish Cypriot people, should be approved by the EU Council before they enter into force. The EU member states' foreign ministers didn't approve them in their yesterday's meeting. And, it was seen that the matter will be discussed again by the Council mid-September.''
''Turkish Cypriots, who said 'yes' in April 24th referenda, expect EU organs to immediately pass draft regulations aiming to end isolation of Turkish Cypriot people in areas of transportation, trade and tourism, without permitting initiatives of the Greek Cypriot administration to prevent such steps,'' the statement said.
The statement noted that Turkish Cypriot side wished to further improve its relations with EU member states and other countries and added, ''Turkish Cypriot side has announced that it will never accept any initiative to be exerted via the Greek Cypriot side. Therefore, we expect the mentioned draft regulations to be adopted and put into practice rapidly and without any changes.''
(BRC) 27.07.2004