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European Parliament approves EU aid for Turkish Cypriots

* The Parliament votes 618-39 to approve 259 million euros in financial aid for Turkish Cyprus over a three-year period

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ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

The European Parliament approved yesterday a set of proposals prepared by the European Union Commission to provide 259 million euros in financial aid to Turkish Cyprus in a three-year period to help its economic development.

The General Assembly of the European Parliament voted 618-39 to endorse the aid proposal. The aid package needs approval from the EU ministers to go into effect.

The Commission unveiled its proposals to provide financial aid for Turkish Cypriots and initiate direct trade between Turkish Cyprus and the EU in July but they have not entered into force yet due to failure to get approval from the EU Council of ministers.

Chris Patten, the EU commissioner for foreign relations, told an EU Parliament session late on Tuesday that the 259 million euros in aid would be delivered through the European Reconstruction Agency, which has worked effectively in the Balkans.

Patten also criticized the EU Council's slowness in approving the proposals. In response to Patten's criticisms, Dutch Minister for Europe Affairs Atzo Nicolai, who addressed the session on behalf of the EU Council, said the EU ministers were expected to reach a consensus on the matter at their next general affairs meeting.

The EU Commission announced its measures after twin referenda in Cyprus on a reunification plan drafted by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. As a reward for their vote in support of the plan, the Commission proposed direct trade with Turkish Cypriots and 259 million euros to support efforts to improve the Turkish Cypriot economy, which suffered heavily from a three-decade-old international embargo.

The proposals for direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cyprus are blocked by Greek Cypriots in the EU, saying such a move would be tantamount to recognition of the Turkish Cypriot state.