Cyprus-Forum.com

[boulio]

FM Iacovou leaving for madrid today stated that the european commision will be looking into the president of the ROC proposel for ammohoustoiu port and larnaca port for the t/c to have direct trade as part of the package to lighten the burden of the economic embargo on the t/c.


http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=515614

[-mikkie2-]

Boulio,

This has been on the agenda for months. Talat dismissed this proposal outright.

Now the EU has not got what it wanted regarding direct trade (majority vote and basing trade on third country status) because legally it knew that Cyprus had a VERY strong case and also knowing that Cyprus would take the case to the European Court of Justice and probably win. That would bring the EU to crisis.

So, now the agenda has been changed by not assuming third country status but to get the RoC to consent to direct trade and putting the vote to unanimity - ie for it (the RoC) to give its approval for it to go ahead.

So, the issue of Ammochostos has been brought up again as the means to achieve this. That is the joint use of Amochostos coupled with the return of Varosha. This in itself will greatly increase cooperation between TC's and GC's as well as making full use of the port for the reconstruction of Varosha and consequently providing masive employment opportunities for GC's and TC's.

The bone of contention will be the opening up of Tymbou airport. I would expect that the RoC will continue to fight this and in my opinion what will happen is that this part of the 'deal' will be left to the British EU presidency to tackle. I expect some movement regarding Ammochostos to take place before June though.

Thats my take on this particular issue.

[boulio]

but i never heard of larnaca also being included in the deal.