Turkey says financial to KKTC to continue despite spat

Turkey announced yesterday that its financial aid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) will not be affected by a high-level political spat over a Turkish Cypriot protest against Ankara. “The aid to the KKTC is continuing and will continue as announced previously,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said at a press conference. He also said the recent tension will not affect negotiations between Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias on reunification of the island. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has harshly condemned the anti-Turkey slogans during a demonstration in the KKTC late last month to protest Turkey-backed austerity measures. Noting that some protesters told Turkey to “get out,” Erdogan said: “Who are you to tell me to get out? I have martyrs [who died during Turkey’s 1974 intervention in Cyprus to protect Turkish Cypriots from Greek Cypriot attacks], I have strategic interests.”