Turkish official suggests Nicosia ask Turk Cypriots for aid
Turkey’s minister for European affairs, Egemen Bagis, on Tuesday suggested that Ankara could provide Cyprus with 5 billion euros in rescue funding on the condition that Nicosia made an official appeal for the money to authorities in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey.
The minister added that Ankara would have no objection if Cyprus wanted to give up the euro for the Turkish lira, which is used in the northern part of the island, noting that “neighbors need each other.”
Commenting on the accession of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004, he said it was not based on mutually beneficial treaties.
