Northern Cyprus slams EU funds approval for Greek Cypriots

By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) slammed the EU’s approval of funding for Greek Cypriot infrastructure projects for the import of liquefied natural gas saying it was “unjust and biased”.

The move ignored the realities and sensitivities on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement comes after a preliminary approval by the European Commission of €101 million ($125 million) for the Greek Cyprus Administration to finance infrastructure projects for the import of liquefied natural gas.

"The concerns of Turkish Cypriots about the project which ignores the rights and interests of the Turkish side have been stated to the related parties,” the statement said, adding that the Turkish Cypriots needed to be included in the decisions regarding the whole island.

The statement also said the EU supported the Greek Cypriots instead of playing a mediating role between the parties.

“The EU’s unfair and biased approach has started promoting division,” the statement said.

It recalled that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had reiterated that the natural resources on the island must benefit both sides and that one-sided moves would trigger tension in the region.

“The Greek Cypriot Administration is signing bilateral and multilateral agreements on its own and is continuing its hydrocarbon exploration activities,” the statement said.

“The most reasonable and practical way of moving natural resources out of the island is to transport them to Europe from North Cyprus via Turkey,” the statement said.