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Contents FES NEWS FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER NR. 77 / OCTOBER 2018 Contents 1. Cyprus Problem ....................................................................................... 2 2. Hydrocarbons .......................................................................................... 5 3. Greek Cypriots ........................................................................................ 6 Economic Developments ........................................................................ 6 Domestic Developments ......................................................................... 6 Labour Relations and Trade Unions ........................................................ 7 4. Turkish Cypriots .................................................................................... 10 Economic Developments ...................................................................... 10 Relations with Turkey ........................................................................... 10 Domestic Developments ....................................................................... 10 Labour Relations and Trade Unions ...................................................... 12 5. FES Cyprus Events ................................................................................. 12 FES NEWS - please follow and visit us on - Twitter.com/FESCyprus - www.FEScyprus.org - www.facebook.com/FEScyprus For subscription to this free newsletter please send an email to [email protected] 1 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 77 / October 2018 1. Cyprus Problem ing with everyone including the Greek Cypriots, Akinci said it was “natural and necessary” for In October, a new model of a solution to the the island’s guarantor powers to meet “other Cyprus problem made headlines. On October 8, relevant sides” but urged caution: “Firstly, if during a National Council meet¬ing held these contacts turn out to be regular, it might between the Greek Cypriot political leaders create an impression that the Turkish Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades suggested the side is being excluded … The impression should idea of a “loose” or a “decentralised not be created that the Turkish Cypriots are a federa¬tion” as an option towards a solution to minor, insignificant detail.” Later in the month, the Cyprus problem. The idea of a loose federa- it emerged that Greek Cypriot President Nicos tion was suggested following Anastasiades Anastasiades met with Turkish Foreign Minister return from New York where he attended the Mevlut Cavusoglu on the side-lines of the Unit- UN Gen¬eral Assembly in September and after ed Nations General Assembly in New York in hav¬ing a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister September. Reports of the meeting were con- Mevlut Cavusoglu. According to Kibris Postasi, firmed by Greek Cypriot government spokes- Mustafa Akinci had made clear that he would man Prodromos Prodromou. Few days later, rather resign than table any model of solution Akinci responded through his social media other than a federal sys¬tem while TRNC For- account to comments that he has been side- eign Minister, Kudret Ozersay, also rejected the lined in the negotiation process by Ankara. He idea of a loose feder¬ation if this was offered said that, numerous comments questioning his ‘because [the Greek Cypriot] side has difficulty position had been made after he drew attention sharing power with us and if it states that Turk- to the dangers that could arise if Turkey and the ish Cypriots should for this reason be excluded Greek Cypriot administration were to increase from active and effective participation in deci- the frequency of their contacts. “Most of these sion making’. Nev¬ertheless, Cavusoglu noted in comments have expressed the view that I, as an interview with Anadolu News Agency pub- the Turkish Cypriot leader, have been side-lined lished on October 23 that Turkey is open to from the process. Within the context of the alternative solutions but stressed that prior to a Cyprus Problem, it is the Turkish Cypriot people new round of talks, a decision must be made on who have elected and authorized me as their whether the sought solution would be on the leader and President1. Only the people may basis of a federation, confederation, a two-state solution or another system. 1 The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognised by the Republic of Turkey. While for On October 5, in response to an earlier state- Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, Mustafa Akinci serves as President of the TRNC, the international ment by the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut community considers him the communal leader of Cavusoglu who had stated that they were meet- the Turkish Cypriots. As the government of the Re- 2 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 77 / October 2018 have the power to dismiss me from such a posi- Cypriot leadership and Turkey are discarding tion. The rest is empty chatter” he said. the bicommunal, bizonal federation model and in stark contrast to his previous reports, On October 15 UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres neither mentioned a bizonal, bicom- Guterres delivered to the UN Security Council munal federation as the model of a solution, the much anticipated report from the Good nor the convergences reached during the previ- Offices in Cyprus. According to the report ous negotiations by Mustafa Akinci and Nicos Guterres assessed “that prospects for a com- Anastasiades. He only made a weak reference prehensive settlement between the communi- to the Guterres framework of six points. ties on the island remain alive”. Guterres more- over tasked Special Envoy, Jane Holl Lute to Both sides in Cyprus cherry-picked the parts of carry out another fact-finding mission before the UNSG’s report that supported their respec- formal negotiations resume to explore the will- tive positions. On the one hand the Greek Cyp- ingness of the two sides to propose new ideas. riot side pointed out that the Guterres report The Secretary General noted in particular that mentioned that any new attempt should be “continued support for a horizon of endless pro- well prepared and that tensions over hydrocar- cess without result lies behind us, not before bons should be avoided. The Turkish Cypriot us… I note the widespread consensus that an side was pleased to see that the report reflect- unchanging status quo – i.e., the lack of resolu- ed their position that a new process should not tion on the Cyprus issue – is not sustainable”. be open ended, but results-oriented. With regards to hydrocarbons Guterres noted that these “should benefit both communities On October 25, trade unions from the World and should provide a strong incentive for all Trade Unions Federation and the Bi-communal Peace Initiative presented the two leaders a concerned parties to work in earnest towards a mutually acceptable and durable solution.” He joint declaration highlighting the urgency of the moreover stressed that efforts should be made settlement of the Cyprus problem. The trade to avoid unnecessary escalation in the coming unions also demanded the talks aimed at resolving the problem to restart as soon as pos- months and to pursue dialogue on this issue. Among revelations suggesting that the Greek sible. The opening of the Dherynia and Lefka border public of Cyprus remains internationally recognised crossings was announced by the Turkish and as the government of the whole of the island, the Greek Cypriot leaders as part of the confidence entire island is now considered to be a member of building measures. On October 26 according to the European Union. However, the acquis commu- nautaire is suspended in northern Cyprus pending a a joint statement issued after a meeting political settlement to the Cyprus problem (see Pro- between Akinci and Anastasiades, the two lead- tocol no. 10 of the Accession Treaty). 3 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 77 / October 2018 ers decided to open the Lefka and Dherynia On October 31 the UN Secretary-General’s crossings on November 12. envoy, Jane Holl Lute, held separate meetings with the island’s two leaders. According to the During the meeting Anastasiades explained to government spokesman, Prodromos Prodro- Akinci his position of devolution in a bid to mou during her meeting with Anastasiades, achieve a functional, lasting solution that will Lute conveyed the UNSG’s position that the create a state which will be fully in line with parties should agree on the terms of reference everything the EU requires. Reportedly, Anasta- for the resumption of talks as soon as possible. siades conveyed to Akinci that decentralisation Anastasiades welcomed the UNSG’s position would restore Turkish Cypriot trust that the that sound preparation was necessary before- Greek Cypriot majority will not abuse power. hand and discussed his positions on how to On the other hand, it would allay Greek Cypriot achieve a functional solution through devolu- concerns that the need for a Turkish Cypriot tion, without altering the basis of the negotia- positive vote will not render the state dysfunc- tions. Following Lute’s meeting with Akinci, tional. Akinci returned from the meeting TRNC spokesman, Baris Burcu issued a brief expressing his satisfaction over the opening of statement noting that there cannot be open the crossings. According to Akinci, Anastasiades ended procedures in the negotiations and there told him he was not thinking outside the UN must be a result. The statement stressed “the parameters nor beyond a bizonal, bicommunal importance of political equality and effective federal solution but that “he wants to evaluate participation in
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