President blames ‘Turkish blackmail’

TALKS on aid and trade for Turkish Cypriots failed because of blackmail by the Turkish Cypriot side, President Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday.

Speaking on his departure for Brussels to attend the European Council meeting, Papadopoulos said the Turkish side had shown no good will towards proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot side, and had dismissed the whole package on offer.
Papadopoulos said the government had asked for the return of Famagusta and an end to the exploitation of Greek Cypriot property in the north

He said the package of issues discussed in Brussels was set by the EU’s Luxembourg presidency and the European Commission, which were of the opinion that the Greek Cypriot side’s demands were reasonable and could be combined with other issues raised.

He said the government had agreed on October 6 2004 to the aid package for the Turkish Cypriots and had released the funds.

“However, the Turkish side, backed by at least one country and perhaps another, tried to use blackmail,” he said, adding that they would not take the money unless arrangements were made for direct trade between the EU and the north.

“The danger here is, if by the end of June they do not take the money, they may not be able to absorb it by the end of the year 2006, when the amount of 259 million euros ceases to be in effect, and since the funds are not voted again, they money will be lost,” Papadopoulos said.
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