EU responds to Erhürman over blocked music festivals and Barcelona football camp

The Turkish Cypriot side had written to the United Nations, the European Union and other relevant parties on August 28, drawing attention to what it described as an increasing number of confidence-eroding actions by the Greek Cypriot leadership and the negative atmosphere they were creating.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the European Commission said in its response that the issues raised by the Turkish Cypriot side, as well as concerns about their possible impact on the UN-led Cyprus process, had been “carefully noted”.
The original letter had also drawn attention to the timing of the incidents.
In its response, the Commission referred to the UN Secretary-General’s recent visit to Cyprus and stressed the importance of building trust between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and encouraging a positive atmosphere in order to create conditions conducive to progress.
The Commission also said its objective was to build bridges, promote dialogue and encourage closer relations both between the two communities and between Turkish Cypriots and the European Union.
The response referred to the 2004 European Council decision concerning efforts to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
It added that civil society initiatives and privately organised activities contributing to the socio-economic development of Turkish Cypriots, particularly young people, and helping to strengthen relations between Turkish Cypriots and the EU were consistent with the objectives set out in that decision.
The Presidency said the Commission’s response demonstrated that the concerns raised in Erhürman’s August letter had been formally taken into consideration at EU level.