THE EU Commission has expressed its willingness to play an “active and creative” role so that the blocked trade and aid package for the Turkish Cypriots can be adopted by the Council.
Speaking ahead of a visit to Nicosia tomorrow and Friday by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, his spokeswoman refrained from elaborating on the “creative” role the EU’s executive could play in order to facilitate a decision.
The two regulations, one providing for direct trade and the second for economic aid of 259 million euros, were proposed by the Commission after last year’s referendum, and are expected to be high on Rehn’s agenda. The Commissioner will try to establish where the two sides stand today.
Member states have agreed on the financial aid, but the Cyprus government is refusing to accept direct trade considering it would constitute recognition of the north.
On their part, Turkish Cypriots have been refusing to accept the money without direct trade, which would have serious political implications.
However, before the election procedures in the north, Turkish sources close to Talat had told the Cyprus Mail they may accept the decoupling of the two regulations as long as the Cyprus government has no big say or involvement in the Thessaloniki-based Western Balkans Reconstruction Agency which will be handling the money.
The Commission is not against the decoupling of the two regulations as further delay may lead to the loss of some of the 259 million euros, mainly to be used for infrastructure in the north. At the same time, the Agency, which will keep Thessaloniki as its headquarters and operate an office in Nicosia, is also due to close in December if it does not take up the Cyprus project.
Asked about Commissioner Rehn’s upcoming visit, his spokeswoman told the daily briefing yesterday that this would be his first time on the island and he would meet political leaders and civil society representatives from both sides.
Kriztina Nagy reiterated that the momentum for a settlement must be taken advantage of and added the EU’s executive is willing to act as a facilitator wherever it could. She was clear the talks should take place under the UN framework, but sources said Rehn would examine what the Commission’s role may be when and if peace negotiations resume. Replying to a CNA question at a seminar earlier, she refrained from saying whether or not the Commissioner would discuss the opening of the Famagusta port.
KENNEDY MEETINGS
Meanwhile, the EU package as well as the US effort to the same end is also among the issues the American Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura Kennedy is discussing in Brussels. A US mission spokesperson told the Cyprus Mail, Kennedy is “comparing notes” on this matter with EU officials.
The spokesperson said the US and EU’s “common interest” in finding a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus based on the Annan plan is also at the centre of her two-day meetings, ending today.
The EU officials, the spokesperson said, also discussed Turkey’s EU candidacy, a prospect which the US believes “has strategic benefits both for Turkey and the EU.” Developments in the Caucasus and Central Asia were examined in Ambassador Kennedy’s meetings with the EU.
The American Deputy Assistant Secretary was scheduled to meet Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Fabrizio Barbaso, Acting Director General of DG Enlargement and Christoph Heusgen, Director of the Policy Unit of the Council of EU, as well as the ambassadors of Turkey, Cyprus and Greece to the EU.
