EU aid for Turkish Cypriots to bypass Denktash regime

Date: 08/05/03

By David Cronin

A €15 MILLION EU aid package designed to benefit the Turkish Cypriot economy will not be funnelled through Rauf Denktash's administration, European Voice has learned.

European Commission officials are currently putting the final touches to the package, due to be adopted by commissioners on 21 May.

But a high-level source in the institution confirmed that the money would not be handed over to Denktash's regime, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

"That cannot be done as the state is not recognised [by the EU]," the official explained.

Last Friday (2 May), Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori said the aim of the assistance was to encourage "rapprochement" of the Turkish north of Cyprus with the rest of the island.

The aid is expected to be backed by measures designed to boost the export of goods from the north, which has been subject to an international economic blockade, to the Greek Cypriot-dominated south and the EU.

Another official added that the Commission's preference for administering aid of a "bicommunal" nature - designed to benefit both Greek and Turkish Cypriots - is that it should be administered by third parties, such as the UN.

A source close to Denktash criticised the Commission for drafting aid plans in consultation with the Greek Cypriot administration, known officially as the Republic of Cyprus, instead of the Turkish Cypriots.

"We're not saying "No" to EU aid but it would be better if the EU approached our own authorities in the TRNC. This is not helpful at this time."

However, the source insisted that the Turkish Cypriots remain committed to enabling the free movement of people between both sides of the island.

Around 120,000 Greek Cypriots have travelled north and 30,000 Turkish Cypriots have gone in the other direction since Denktash decided last month to ease border restrictions along Nicosia's "green line" for the first time since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

A €15 million European Union aid package designed to benefit the Turkish Cypriot economy, due to be adopted on 21 May 2003, will not be funnelled through Rauf Denktash's administration, according to a European Commission source.