The Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that the EU had taken a backward step by approving the Financial Aid Regulation after decoupling it from the Direct Trade Regulation and that rather than receiving financial aid the Turkish Cypriot side's main expectation was concrete steps for direct trade, which would ensure the Turkish Cypriot peoples integration with the world.

The written statement issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday (28 February) is as follows:

"The approval of the Financial Aid Regulation for the Turkish Cypriots by the EU after decoupling it from the Direct Trade Regulation is evaluated as being an action that is far from ending the Turkish Cypriot side's isolation and contributing to efforts to reach a permanent settlement in Cyprus.

The main expectation of the Turkish Cypriots, who receive much, much more than the amount mentioned in the Financial Aid Regulation in question from the Republic of Turkey each year and who have proved their sincerity for reaching a permanent settlement in Cyprus, is concrete steps for direct trade, which would ensure the Turkish Cypriot peoples integration with the world.

The Turkish Cypriot people have been struggling to survive under isolations and inhumane restrictions for 43 years. At the point reached, rather than financial aid what the Turkish Cypriot people, who have worked and produced despite all kinds of difficulties, really need is the opportunity for direct trade, which will help reduce the economic gap between the two sides and create a chance to compete in the international arena. In this context, it is unacceptable to leave the Turkish Cypriot side's justified expectations and hopes to the judgement of the Papadopoulos administration.

Following the pressure exerted by the Greek Cypriot side promises made by the EU after the referendum to lift the ongoing isolations imposed on North Cyprus, have gained a new dimension and have been put in front of us with the allegation that these promises have been kept. With this decision, the EU has taken a backward step from its decision taken after the referendum on 26 April 2004 to lift the isolations imposed upon the TRNC. Additionally, within the framework of this decision, references made to unofficial and unagreed meetings on any subject in Luxembourg by the EU, is unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriot side.