How generous is generous?

PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday challenged the United States to put a figure on the “generous” aid promised by American envoy Thomas Weston in the event of a solution.

Speaking on his arrival in Cyprus on Sunday, Weston said: “I think that you will find that the US will approach it very generously as it has in terms of providing resources to Cyprus for many years… I can’t put a figure on it, the necessary work simply hasn’t been done yet to determine that figure.”

But Papadopoulos yesterday called for a more specific commitment

“Generosity is an issue of degree,” he said.

“Let them calculate the cost and give us an indication of what percentage of the cost could possibly be covered with this generous contribution,” Papadopoulos said.

Weston said later he understood people’s concerns that Cyprus would suffer financially if there were a settlement.
“I’ve discussed this with both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and expressed that these issues must be addressed in the negotiations. There have been enough questions raised for recommendations to be made in the plan,” he said.

But, speaking to reporters at a news conference at the Ledra Palace, he was no more forthcoming on how much cash would be released, referring instead to the EU’s plan to organise an International Donors’ Conference.

“If the Conference is held, we will participate and encourage others to. This will help the Cypriot people when they are making a decision on whether to vote for the plan as they will have our support,” said Weston.

He said that there were a group of non-EU countries that were interested in the Cyprus settlement. “Other EU member states have a substantial interest in a solution for EU purposes.”