Turkey slams EU for failure to keep Cyprus pledges

Foreign ministers of EU countries convened on Monday in Brussels but they failed to approve an EU Commission package proposing direct trade with Turkish Cypriots and granting 259 million euros in aid after Greek Cypriots objected to the proposed steps.

"Monday’s meeting presented a valuable opportunity but this opportunity has been missed," said a statement from the Foreign Ministry released late on Monday.

"Turkey attaches great importance to the swift entry into force of the draft regulations (on free trade and financial aid) without any amendments," it said.

Greek Cypriots object to proposed measures saying direct trade with Turkish Cypriots would be tantamount to de facto recognition of the Turkish Cypriot state.

"Our position is that this is unsound on both political and legal grounds," Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou told reporters after Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

He said although he supported EU plans to give the Turkish Cypriot’s 259 million euros to rebuild its economy, the trade question remained intractable.

Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in support of a U.N. plan aimed at reunification of the island in an April 24 referendum ahead of Cyprus’ accession into the EU. But the plan failed due to objection from Greek Cypriots and only the Greek Cypriot section of the island joined the EU on May 1.

The EU Commission proposed earlier this month a set of measures allowing the Turkish Cypriot north, as a reward for its "yes" vote, to trade freely with the bloc. It has also drawn up an aid package of 259 million euros to rebuild the north’s economy.

But the plan needs approval from the EU ministers and now that Monday’s meeting failed to produce an outcome, the ministers will consider the matter again in their next meeting, which will take place on Sept. 13-14.

"The time has come to end the restrictions, which the Turkish Cypriots in no way deserve after displaying their will in the referendum for a settlement on the island," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Greek Cypriots, in a move dismissed by Turkey and Turkish Cypriots as an attempt to divert attention from the real issue of ending Turkish Cypriots’ economic isolation, have recently proposed a series of confidence building measures to improve ties with Turkish Cypriots.

Iacovou said relations between the two communities were developing rapidly and called for more crossing points to be opened across the so-called Green Line dividing the island.

He said more vehicles carrying goods would be allowed to cross the Green Line.

"Broadly, public service vehicles owned by Turkish Cypriots and citizens of EU countries will be allowed to cross the line loaded with persons or products as appropriate," he said. These included trucks carrying goods, whether privately or for hire, tourist buses and coaches, and taxis.

"All these initiatives … further increase the prospects of Turkish Cypriot trade and more generally of the Turkish Cypriot economy," Iacovou said.