The Government of Cyprus announced on Friday a set of 14 measures that concern a wide range of actions that impact the daily life of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots.

According to an announcement by the Presidency, the measures have been formulated following an assessment of all relevant parameters, and will be implemented in line with national law, international law, and the European Union acquis.

Specifically, the 14 measures are the following: First examination of all pending applications for the granting of Cypriot citizenship in the framework of the decision by the Council of Ministers of February 2007, secondly, the payment of widow pensions to entitled beneficiaries, thirdly, access to clinical services of the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, also, provision of urgent and emergency pharmaceutical needs, expansion of the list of goods in the framework of the Green Line Regulation with the addition of 6 products, access to human resources programs in the framework of the action plan for the European Year of Skills and access to vocational programs by the Productivity Centre, as well as to training seminars on issues relating to the European Union acquis.

The measures also include the right to acquire a Youth Culture Card upon the completion of 18 years of age, increase of staffing at the checkpoints, widening of the crossing point at Agios Dometios, measures for the rapid crossing of students at the Ledra Palace checkpoint, hiring of staff with knowledge of the Turkish language at the Nicosia Citizen Service Centre, safeguarding the continuation of the smooth operation of the Mia Milia water waste unit and facilitation for access to Muslim monuments in the government-controlled areas.

"We remain committed in our efforts to create the conditions for the resumption of the negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem based on the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and the principles and the European Union acquis" the Presidency says.