The European Union will “never accept” a two-state solution for Cyprus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday, pitting the bloc against Turkey.
“I want to repeat that we will never, ever, accept a two-state solution, we are firm on that and very united, and this is what Cyprus can expect,” Ms von der Leyen said, speaking alongside Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.
“The most precious part is unity in the EU, and the knowledge that all 26 member states at the European level are standing by your side."
A two-state Cyprus is backed by Turkey, which is also the only nation to recognise the north of the island as a separate country.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied the northern third in response to a coup orchestrated by an Athens-backed junta seeking to annex the island to Greece.
The Turkish-held north declared independence in 1983, but is recognised only by Ankara. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
In April, a summit in Geneva failed to broker a deal between Cypriot leaders to resume talks that stalled in 2017, but the UN is trying to mediate.
The EU supports member state Greece in another long-running dispute with Turkey over sea and mineral rights.
Ms Von der Leyen said a summit of EU leaders sent a “very clear message” to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“I want our neighbours [Turkey] to know that if they speak to one of our member states, like, for example, Cyprus, in whatever tone, they speak to the EU,” she said.
“We are united on that, we stand by your side, and I have been clear on that too in my phone call with President Erdogan.”
She said Cyprus would receive €1.2 billion ($1.42bn) in EU funding to revive its pandemic-stricken economy. “It will spur growth, modernise and transform Cyprus,” she said.
Cyprus proposes to use 41 per cent of the funds to support climate objectives, by changing tax rules, liberalising the electricity market and encouraging construction of energy-efficient buildings.
Another €18m will go towards fighting natural disasters, a move that Ms von der Leyen commended after visiting areas devastated by Cyprus's worst bush fire that killed four people last weekend.
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Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
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Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
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The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
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Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
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2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
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MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
