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Talat says that financial aid will directly be given to the Turkish Cypriots by the EU and the USA


Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (15.12.04) reports that Mehmet Ali Talat, so-called Prime Minister of the occupation regime, has said that the EU will give directly to the Turkish Cypriots the 259 million euro financial aid. He added that the USA as well will grant directly the 30.5 million dollars promised to the Turkish Cypriots.

In statements to KIBRIS Mr Talat noted yesterday that the occupation regime would have the authority to distribute this money and that the coordination of the EU and US aid to the Turkish Cypriots will be conducted by the so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Rasit Pertev who will be the "Coordinator of the Financial Aid".

Mr Talat said that the EU presidency has rejected a demand of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, which wanted the aid to the Turkish Cypriots to be given through itself. Responding to a question regarding the coordination of the financial aid that will be granted to the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Talat said:

"The duty of the coordination belongs to the government of course. If something will be made in the northern part of the island this will be made with the government. In the beginning I, as Prime Minister, was the one who had contacts with the EU. However, when the financial aid came onto the agenda and the possibility that the aid would come from not only one butfrom many sources appeared, we felt the need for an experienced person and a strong center which will be coordinating this. 'I gave this duty to the Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Rasit Pertev. '".

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat noted that nothing will happen if the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan is not convinced to launch an initiative towards the solution. "The thing that will convince Annan are the suggestions of Papadopoulos for changes", argued Mr Talat.