US embassy cable - 04ROME3917

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003917 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, ECIN, TU, CY, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY AGREES ON NEED FOR IMMEDIATE AID FOR CYPRUS, 
TRADE AGREEMENT NOT AS EASY 
 
REF: STATE 209905 
 
Classified By: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN.  REASON: 1.5 (B)( 
D) 
 
1. (C) MFA Turkey/Cyprus Office Director Renato Ricci told 
Poloff on October 4 that Italy concurs with the US view 
(REFTEL) that increased economic development in North Cyprus 
will aid reunification.  To that end, Italy supprts rapid 
disbursal of the Commission's propoed Euro 259 million aid 
package, and appreciaed the USD 30.5 million contribution. 
Ricci's personal view was that even these generous amounts 
were not sufficient to promote business evelopment and 
economic growth in the North, nd he would not be surprised 
if an additional more robust, package would be proposed for 
the near future, particularly if it was perceived by Member 
States to help the cause of Turkey receiving a date to start 
EU accession talks at the December Council. 
 
2. (C) Ricci recognized that long term growth in the North 
could not be sustained indefinitely by handouts, and that a 
major component of Turkish-Cypriot economic development and 
stabilization for the island in general depended on a trade 
agreement for the North.  The EU would have to work carefully 
to craft an agreement acceptable to both sides of the island, 
as well as to Ankara and Athens.  Ricci was confident this 
could be accomplished in relatively short order in Brussels. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME03917 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL