PIERINI EXPECTS EU TO LAUNCH DIRECT TRADE WITH NORTHERN CYPRUS THIS MONTH

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Jan 16 2007

BARCELONA – Marc Pierini, the head of the Delegation of the European
Commission to Turkey, said on Saturday that he expects the EU to
launch direct trade with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
in the meeting that will take place on January 22nd.

Taking the floor in the 7th EU-Turkey Seminar on "Reciprocal Images
and Mutual Knowledge: From Confrontation to Integration" organized
in Barcelona by the European Institute of the Mediterranean, Pierini
noted, "this will be the first serious step the EU will take regarding
TRNC."

What is important is to "continue negotiations" between Turkey and
the EU, stated Pierini.

Turkey faces many problems on road to the EU, but this is an ongoing
process, Pierini said.

Pierini pointed out that the so-called Armenian genocide allegations
will never be a precondition before Turkey`s negotiations with the EU.

On the other hand, Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin, who is in
Barcelona for there days to participate in the seminar, met Spanish
executives including State Secretary for the EU Alberto Navarro and
Jose Montilla, the President of Catalonia region.

Catalonia extends great support to Turkey`s EU accession, Aydin said.

"I had a friendly meeting with Montilla. We will undertake projects
to enhance economic and cultural relations with Catalonia," he added.

Aydin is expected to return to Turkey later today.