Theme of the day of 2 March 2006
European Parliament 'Northern Cyprus Contact Group' to visit Cyprus
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Meetings are scheduled with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Christofias and with the acting Leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community. MEPs also intend to meet Mr Ferdi Soyer, Mr Serdar Denktas and other representatives of the Turkish-Cypriot community and with a wide range of Turkish-Cypriot NGOs.
The High-Level Contact Group was set up to "strengthen relations with the Cypriot community in the northern part of the island" and "to establish contact with the political representatives of the northern part of the island, elected representatives and representatives of civil society in the broadest sense of the term". The meetings in the north of the island do not signify any official recognition of the partition of the island nor of the "TRNC". The aim is rather "to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish-Cypriot community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus", as was laid down in the Council Conclusions of 26 April 2004.
MEPs warmly welcomed the decision by the Council earlier this week to finally adopt the Financial Aid package for the Turkish-Cypriot community as repeatedly called for by the European Parliament. The Council decision was seen as a first encouraging step to move to the adoption of the Direct Trade package in order to fulfil the remaining commitments made by the EU to the Turkish-Cypriot community.
The Parliament Contact Group will hold a press conference at Ledra Palace on 7 March between 10 and 11am.
