"EU boost for Talat in Brussels
By Myria Antoniadou in Brussels
THE EU Commission President has assured Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the financial aid regulation (259 million euros) for his community and a second providing for direct trade between Europe and the north are still on the table.
European sources told the Cyprus Mail that Barosso considers the two regulations a package and hopes it will be approved soon.
Barosso and Talat met in Brussels yesterday, after days of pressure by European circles wanting to back the Turkish Cypriot in his pre-election campaign.
The EU executive�s President acknowledged Talat�s �pro-EU and pro-solution� stance, the sources said. He also expressed hope the talks for a settlement would be re-launched soon and said the Commission was ready to support any such effort.
The Commission, the sources said, is also open to compromises that would help get the aid package out of the present deadlock.
The EU had prepared three regulations in a bid to back Turkish Cypriots economically and politically after the failure of last year�s referendum. "
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