The Turkish Cypriots quietly signed the delayed 2016-2018 Economic and Financial Protocol with Turkey last week without fuss or fanfare.
The signing of the protocol means that Turkey will transfer just over TL 3.5 billion (€1bn) in financial aid to the north.
According to sources from the coalition, no signature ceremony was held for the controversial package but Turkish Cypriot coalition leader Huseyin Ozgurgun who signed the deal, forwarded it onto Turkey.
Sources say that changes include privatisation of the distribution of electricity.
The signature of the protocol was brought to light during the recent visit of the newly appointed Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to the north. Yildirim announced that the protocol was now being implemented, acknowledging that the two parties had endorsed the deal.
Commenting on the statement Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat tweeted that it was a “great burden” to hear from the Turkish side that the deal had been signed, when the local coalition had kept it under wraps.
Cyprus Weekly
