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EU approves 32 mln euros to support Turkish Cypriot community

Xinhua, December 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Commission on Friday approved a new financial assistance program worth 32 million euros (35 million U.S. dollars) to support the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The Commissioner for Regional Policy of the EU Corina Cretu said the process of the reunification of the divided island of Cyprus should be facilitated through the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community.

"This is why we fund projects which contribute to bringing the two Cypriot communities closer together," she said.

Cretu added reconciliation and trust-building efforts will continue to be a strong component of the program through support to the bi-communal committee on cultural heritage and, for the first time, the rehabilitation of the buffer zone in the old town of Nicosia.

Since 2006, the EU has invested 400 million euros under the aid program for the Turkish Cypriot community to support the local economy, infrastructure and prepare the community to implement EU laws in connection with a reunification of Cyprus. Endit