E.U. in Direct Contact With Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Verheugen disclosed that they would cooperate with Cypriot Turkish officials and that the E.U. foreign ministers agreed to end the economic isolation of Turks. "We should not allow the Cypriot Turks to be punished. We feel strongly that the isolation policy applied to the North should be ended," he said.

"Actually, we never put embargo on the North. There was a court verdict and we acted accordingly," argued Verheugen, emphasizing that cooperation is not synonymous with recognition. Diplomatic sources state that the E.U. will lift the embargo in order to not victimize the Cypriot Turks. If the Cyprus problem continues, some sources point out that the E.U. might establish a ‘Taiwan type’ relation with the Cypriot Turks.

Elsewhere, TRNC wasted little time in beginning its diplomatic offensive on Monday. TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat officially demanded that both the Acquis Communitaire that will be applied to South Cyprus as well as South Cyprus’ membership be frozen until the Cyprus issue is resolved. On his way to Brussels as a guest of the E.U. Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, Talat insisted that the Green Line Regulation be changed in light of the new conditions.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called his British and German counterparts yesterday and held meetings to review the Union’s Cyprus bylaw. Gul reportedly conveyed Turkey’s demands, which include the resumption of commercial relations, economic support and direct flights to Northern Cyprus.