The committee also gave the green light to the financial aid package, but the original 259 million euros will be cut by 120 million because it was not approved by the end of 2005.
TRNC President Mehmet All Talat called on the committee to reconsider its decision, which he described as having been ''passed without our consent. .. with the aim of avoiding a Greek Cypriot veto, [and] far from meeting our ex¬pectations". He regretted the passing of decisions "which may be harmful to a comprehensive [Cyprus] solution'" and urged Coreper to call the Greek Cypriot to the negotiating table.
The financial aid proposal had been held up by wrangling over whether it should remain linked with direct trade.
The remaining 139 million euros will be made available after submission to the ministerial Council of the European Union for adoption "at the earliest opportunity", said a statement last night.
However, the statement declared that the "Republic of Cyprus" govern¬ment would be consulted about "major aspects" of implementing the regulation, and on any projects to be financed under its auspices, if feas¬ibility studies showed they might affect property rights.
Coreper also decided to change the procedure by which the direct trade regulation could be adopted, requiring a unanimous decision. |
