Ersin Tatar claimed that "Turkish Cypriots are entitled to 30% of the 1 billion euro financial contribution to be given by the EU to the Republic of Cyprus".
According to the Press and Information Office, "Kibris Postasi" writes that in statements after his meeting with the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, which lasted about 1.5 hours, Ersin Tatar said that he informed Mrs. Ferreira on the proposals he forwarded to the Greek Cypriot side and said that Turkish Cypriots are partners in hydrocarbon deposits. He also mentioned the importance of the support that Turkey can provide to connect the occupied territories to the European electricity system and the European financial support meant for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Tatar's proposals
The Turkish Cypriot leader said that Cyprus can be connected to the European electricity system through a cable from Turkey. In this way, he noted, the problems facing the electricity sector in both "northern Cyprus", as he described the Turkish-occupied territories, and "southern Cyprus", as he described the Republic-controlled territories, can be largely addressed.
Referring to the issue of water, Tatar said he explained to Ms. Ferreira that it can be a subject of cooperation with the Greek Cypriot side and that this was included in the proposals she submitted.
On the issue of illegal migration, Tatar said he told Ferreira that after the Feast of the Sacrifices (Kurbani) he would submit a proposal to the Greek Cypriot side to set up a committee with the participation of Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
Mr. Tatar further stated that there are still minefields in the buffer zone and that he will submit proposals to the Greek Cypriot side regarding the demining of these areas.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that the EU is one of the parties involved. Tatar argued that it is an injustice to Turkish Cypriots that all EU aid is channelled to Greek Cypriots and went on to say that the Turkish Cypriot side has not received the support and treatment it deserves.
Mr. Tatar claimed that although the Turkish Cypriot side accounts for 30% of the coronavirus vaccines allocated by the EU, it received only 10%.
He also told the European Commissioner that the Turkish Cypriot side is entitled to 30% of EU aid to Cyprus. He used the example of German unification where until East and West Germany were equated all aid was allocated to East Germany and argued that if the aim is to reach an agreement on the island, the injustices he claimed Turkish Cypriots suffered should be redressed.
Ersin Tatar claimed that a higher percentage of 30% should be allocated to the Turkish Cypriot side to address the economic losses suffered due to the "embargo" which he claimed has been applied against it for years, while the economy of the Greek Cypriot side has developed with the support of the whole world.
It is noted that according to Diyallog, the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms in a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce referred to the development of Green Line trade and the work underway in the context of the inclusion of halalumi in the list of products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). He also stated that financial aid to the Turkish Cypriot community should be increased and that it should be used in a more effective way.
Also, according to Kibris Postasi, following his meeting with Ms. Ferreira, the chairman of the People's Party (PL), Koutret Ozersay said that the ecosystem of Cyprus is unified and that steps to be taken in the free areas on the issue of transition to the green economy should also be taken in the occupied areas.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
