"Turkish Cypriot trade package in the deep freeze
By Myria Antoniadou
NO European Union presidency would risk resuming discussion on the two Commission regulations aimed at assisting the Turkish Cypriots unless it had evidence it could achieve an agreement, European sources have told the Sunday Mail.
They said neither the Luxembourg Presidency nor anyone else involved would want another embarrassment and deadlock.
Both diplomatic and EU sources expressed doubt that the short-term political circumstances on the island leave room for hope that progress can be made on the Commission�s proposals.
The proposals were put forward following the failure of the referendum on the Annan plan last year, which the Greek Cypriots rejected and the Turkish Cypriots endorsed. In the aftermath, member states had decided to give Turkish Cypriots financial assistance and ease their economic isolation. To this end, the Commission proposed three regulations, but only the Green Line regulation for on-island trade was agreed.
Discussion on the other two, financial aid of 259 million euros and direct trade between the EU and the north, reached deadlock during last year�s Dutch Presidency. "
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