Speaking on Tuesday, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou revealed that the Government was planning a number of measures for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriot community.

“It is in the Government’s thoughts and intentions to prepare a packet of measures for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriot community,” he confirmed.

He went on to add, however, that:

“What needs to be completely clear to all of us is that these measures and these decisions cannot solve the Cyprus problem. Further than this, as the President also said, we will announce measures when we are ready. I have to say – as we said in the past - that the Republic of Cyprus is examining measures for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots also as Republic of Cyprus."

"We very much believe in the creation and in the building of trust. Besides, the Republic of Cyprus, through its decisions has to prove in practice as well and send this message to the Turkish Cypriot community that the Republic of Cyprus also concerns the Turkish Cypriot community and that it takes care of its citizens.”

According to reports, the aid in question - part of a wider EUR259mn put aside by the EC for the Turkish-occupied North - pertains to tenders "relating to services and projects for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community".

The move is being viewed as a positive one by the European Union and the wider global community, and represents something of a change of direction from the hard line followed by former President Tassos Papadopoulos.