This week in North Cyprus > 25th February-3rd March 2006
Talat disappointed at EU aid package offer
The European Unions Commitee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) last night agreed to separate the bloc's long disputed regulations on financial aid to and direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots.
The committee also gave the green light to the financial aid package, but theorigional 259 million euros will be cut by 120 million because it was not approved by the end of 2005.
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat called on the committee to reconsider it desision, which he described as being "passed without our consent....with the aim of avoiding a Greek Cypriot veto, (and) far from meeting our expectations". He regretted the passing of decisions "which may be harmful to a comprehensive (Cyprus) solution" and urged Coreper to call the Greek Cypriots 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 government would be consulted about "major aspects" of implementating the regulation, and on any projects to be financed under its ausices, if feasibility showed they might effect property rights.
Coreper also decided to change the procedure by which the direct trade regulation could be adopted, requiring a unanimous decision.
Annan tells Papadopoulos: Dont come empty-handed!
DONT come empty handed - that was the message this week from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos as the pair prepared for their meeting in Paris on Tuesday.
A UN spokesman said the comimng talks were very important for the Cyprus issue and Mr Annan had asked Mr Papadopoulos to come up with proposals, otherwise the negotiations would have reached a dead end.
Mr Annan was also said to be examining the Turkish proposed action plan for a settlement and to be discussing authorities.
The meeting comes as the Greek Cypriot put themselves on a collision course with Turkey, saying they would report Ankara to the European Union for refusing to allow the Greek Cypriot-flagged ship to dock in the port of Mersin - less than a week after South Nicosia vowed to veto Turkey's accession to the bloc if it "failed to meet its commitments to Cyprus".
The cargo ship was denied permission on Wednesday night to unload 16 containers at Mersin. It anchorded offshore before sailing back to Italy.
An aid to Mr Papadopoulos accused Turkey of having the mentality of a pirate". Turkish commentators describe the incident as a "crisis" deliberately set up by the Greek Cyptiots to test Ankara and to win EU s
Inspectors Hunt for Illegal adn Shoody Construction
An official campaign is being launched to stamp out illegal and shoody construction in the Girne area, where the current building boom saw nearlt 1,000 new-build applications last year.
Girne District Office inspectors, accompanied by teams of architects and engineers, are aiming to prvent building work going ahead without permission and to monitor construction quality.
Ultimately, says the office, it aims to pursue legal action against those responsible for unlicensed building work or projects deemed of poor building work or projects deemed of quality.
Girne District Officer Savas Orakioglu said the initial priority was to crack down on illegal building in the Girne area, where the intensity of construction was at its peak. He commented "Legally, construction should only be started after obtaining a permit, but many began in tandem with an application." He admitted: "This may be down to the clumsiness of the system - to obtain a permit, six or seven departments must approve the construction, but because of staff shortages in these departments , developers cannot recieve a quick response to their applicatins."
Currency exchange rates
US Dollar |
1.31 |
UK Pound |
2.30 |
Cyprus Pound |
2.64 |
Euro |
1.57 |
The weather this week in North Cyprus
The war, mainly sunny weather will continue for most of the week with maximum temperatures of 19-21C, but by Thursday temperatures will drop two or three degrees and it will become cloudier with intermittent rain. Winds will be moderate southerly to easterly, becoming strong westerly later in the week.
Maximum and minimum temperatures and rainfall last week
Town/City |
Minimum Temperature |
Maximum Temperature |
Rain |
Lefkosa |
2.8 |
22.2 |
- |
Ercan |
3.7 |
22.3 |
- |
Gazi Magusa |
5.6 |
20.0 |
- |
Girne |
10.0 |
19.5 |
- |
Güzelyurt |
3.1 |
24.3 |
- |
Resources: Cyprus Today and Cyprus Times
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