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UK Plans to Start Flights to TRNC in July
By Zaman
Published: Monday 21, 2005
zaman.com

Following a business trip by Americans to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), it has been reported that the United Kingdom (UK) will begin making flights to the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) when it becomes the next European Union (EU) president.

The UK is reportedly angry at Greeks for rejecting the Annan Plan in a referendum last April and will try to initiate a new plan in Cyprus and end the sanctions on Turkish Cypriots once it takes over the EU presidency from Luxemburg in July.

According to the European Voice, which is published in Brussels, the UK plans to start direct flights to TRNC a "few weeks" after taking over the EU term presidency. Sources told the paper that direct flights are being "seriously considered" and that they will be symbolic.

The British will have to be careful not to violate international law as they begin to work on strategies to start charter flights to the island. Since the international community only recognizes the Greek Cypriot administration, the TRNC's airport, Ercan, is not recognized by the Civil Aviation Organization. Diplomatic sources, however, think that the Greeks will not be able to intervene with charter flights because those are not required to have any contact with national official aviation institutions.

The EU decided after the referendum on April 24, 2004 to end the TRNC's sanctions, but the decision was blocked from implementation by the Greeks.

The EU Commission has prepared three by-laws to end the sanctions imposed on the TRNC. One of them, the Green Line Regulation, was implemented last week. The Trade Regulation and 259 million euros in financial aid, the most important regulations, were blocked by the Greeks.