"How the secret talks broke down
By Simon Bahceli
TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat squarely blamed the Greek Cypriot side yesterday for the breakdown of �secret� talks in Brussels aimed at finding a compromise deal that would allow the implementation of an EU aid and trade package for the Turkish Cypriot north.
The Brussels talks, organised by Luxemburg�s current EU presidency, began in secrecy last week and continued until reaching stalemate yesterday evening. They centred on trying to find way to partially or fully implement an aid and trade package proposed by the EU commission in June last year. Implementation of the joint package has consistently been blocked by the Cypriot government on the grounds that allowing direct trade between the north and the EU would constitute recognition of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state. "
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