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EU approves 26.5 million euros in further aid for Northern Cyprus
Jun 27, 2011, 14:59 GMT
Brussels - Turkish Cypriots are set to receive 26.5 million euros (38 million dollars) in further annual aid from the European Union to prepare them for reunification with Greek Cypriots, the EU's executive said Monday.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, after Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in response to a Greek-inspired coup.
The initiatives to be funded with the new EU money 'are reunification-driven, underlining the EU's expectations for a successful end of the talks towards reunification of the island,' EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement.
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but only the southern, Greek portion enjoys the benefits of membership.
Reunification talks were relaunched in 2008, with the United Nations aiming to broker a deal by mid-2012, before Cyprus takes over the EU presidency in the second half of the year.
Monday's announcement increases EU funding to Northern Cyprus to 28 million euros annually. In addition, the bloc has pledged a total of 259 million euros over 2009-12.
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