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FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER NR. 98 / JULY 2020 Contents 1. New and Upcoming Publications/Podcasts (www.FEScyprus.org) ......... 2 1. FES Cyprus Events ................................................................................ 3 2. Cyprus Problem .................................................................................... 3 3. Hydrocarbons ...................................................................................... 6 4. Greek Cypriots ..................................................................................... 7 Economic Developments ...................................................................... 7 Domestic Developments ...................................................................... 7 Labour Relations and Trade Unions ...................................................... 9 5. Turkish Cypriots ............................................................................................. 9 Economic Developments ...................................................................... 9 Relations with Turkey ......................................................................... 10 Domestic Developments .................................................................... 10 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 find the form here www.fescyprus.org/newsletter/ 1 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 98 / JULY 2020 1. New and Upcoming Publications/Podcasts (www.FEScyprus.org) August September Hubert Faustmann, Gregoris Ioannou, Sertac Ömer Gökçekuş, Sertac Sonan Sonan Socio-Economic and Political Impact of Cyprus, Trade Union Monitor Austerity Policies in North Cyprus: Report A Brief Assessment (In English, German) (In English, German, Greek, Turkish) Sertac Sonan, Ebru Küçükşener, Enis Porat Ömer Gökçekuş, Sertac Sonan Politics and Society in North Cyprus: A Survey Corruption Perceptions in North Cyprus: 2019 Study, 2019 Report Report (In English, German, Greek, Turkish) (In English, Turkish) Podcasts Cihan Dizdaroğlu Podcast: The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic The Perceptions of Cypriot Youth Matter 2019 on Cyprus as a new Migration Hotspot FES/PRIO Briefing/Report With Nicos Trimikliniotis, (In English) Professor of Sociology at University of Nicosia. Head of the team of Cyprus’ team for the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU. (In English) https://www.fes.de/mediathek/hoerbar/pe rmalink/the-impact-of-the-covid-19- Elias Ioakmoglou, Nicos Trimikliniotis pandemic-on-cyprus-as-a-new-migration- The Post-Pandemic Stimulus to Restart the hotspot Cypriot Economy: A Wage-led Growth Strategy Report (In English) 2 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 98 / JULY 2020 1. FES Cyprus Events not re-enter the Greek Cypriot side if they are not residents in the south. The same re- All upcoming public events have been can- striction applies to EU citizens living in the celled until further notice in response to the north. spread of the corona virus. Political parties represented in the TRNC1 par- liament issued a joint declaration on July 13 calling on the Greek Cypriot authorities to 2. Cyprus Problem stop preventing foreign nationals from cross- ing to the north. The statement said that since On July 6, new crossing measures were an- July 1, when the TRNC started allowing in nounced by the Turkish Cypriot side. The tourists, the Greek Cypriot side had banned measures created confusion especially among the free movement of people between the Kato Pyrgos and Tylliria residents which have two sides with a view of undermining the been using the Limnitis crossing point. This Turkish Cypriot economy. The declaration crossing was the last to open after the two argued that this was in violation of the Green sides relaxed restrictions in June. Line Regulation and the parties called on EU officials to take the initiative so that condi- On July 7, UNFICYP engaged with the Turkish tions return to the pre-pandemic period. Cypriot side to clarify the situation that re- sulted in a revision of the crossing measure- Several protests were staged on the Turkish ments announced. According to the updated Cypriot side of two crossing points on July 17, measures of July 9, individuals crossing be- calling on the Greek Cypriot authorities to lift tween the two sides will be required to carry restrictions particularly on tourists, crossing out a one-off coronavirus test within 72 hours over to the north. One protest staged by a before the crossing on the condition they group which included the Turkish Cypriot have not left the island in the last 14 days. Chamber of Commerce, Turkish Cypriot Random tests will be carried out at crossings. Further regulations stipulated that tourists 1 could cross to the north in particular from The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognised by the Republic of Turkey. While category A countries. But any possibility of for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, Mustafa tourists going north was effectively blocked Akinci serves as President of the TRNC, the by the regulations of the Greek Cypriot side. international community considers him the Those crossing into the south are required to communal leader of the Turkish Cypriots. As the government of the Republic of Cyprus remains present a negative test conducted within 72 internationally recognised as the government of hours before each crossing. Only Cypriots and the whole of the island, the entire island is now residents in the south can pass through the considered to be a member of the European crossings. Therefore, EU citizens can cross Union. However, the acquis communautaire is suspended in northern Cyprus pending a political from the south into the north, but they can- settlement to the Cyprus problem (see Protocol no. 10 of the Accession Treaty). 3 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 98 / JULY 2020 Chamber of Industry, contractor companies, Akinci, in a written statement, reacted to the hoteliers as well as other stakeholders in the announcement by the US embassy in Cyprus tourism sector was held at the Agios of Washington’s intention to provide Interna- Dometios crossing point while a second tional Military Education and Training (IMET) demonstration was held by shopkeepers at to the Greek Cypriot National Guard. Akinci the Ledra Street/Lokmaci crossing point. said that the US could only contribute to peace and stability in the region, not through Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot side protested military support and cooperation, but by pur- to the UN over the placement by the Greek suing a balanced approach to both sides and Cypriot side of trenches of portable heavy encouraging constructive dialogue and coop- weapons near the Limnitis crossing point. In eration between regional actors. particular TRNC Foreign Minister, Kudret Ozersay reportedly asked, in a letter to the The UN Security Council unanimously re- Special Representative of the Secretary- newed the UN’s Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP Eliza- mandate for another six months on July 28 beth Spehar, for clearance of the trenches until January 31. The resolution called among near the crossing point. other: for the establishment of an effective mechanism for direct military contacts be- Ahead of the UNFICYPs mandate renewal, tween the sides and the relevant involved Spehar held separate meetings on July 14 and parties, the reopening of all the crossing 15 with both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek points and the return to the operating status Cypriot leaders, Mustafa Akinci and Nicos that existed prior to 29 February 2020 and Anastasiades, respectively. effective coordination and cooperation on On July 16 Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa health matters, including the Covid-19 pan- Akinci stated that the authority and demo- demic. The mandate expressed concern over cratic legitimacy of the elected Turkish Cypriot the further escalation and increased tensions leader was not up for discussion. His state- in the eastern Mediterranean over hydrocar- ment followed Foreign Minister Nicos bons exploration. Christodoulides’ disclosure, that Ankara was A statement by the TRNC foreign ministry pushing for talks between Greek Cypriots and described the mandate as unfair on the Turkish Cypriots but with Ozersay instead of grounds that it allegedly allows the Greek Akinci. “The President of the TRNC is the only Cypriots to guide the agenda to divide the interlocutor for the Greek Cypriot side and the people, by failing to give emphasis to cooper- United Nations and is regarded as the Turkish ation on the economy, trade, tourism and Cypriot leader,” Akinci stressed, while adding policing. The statement noted that by this that the long-accepted parameters of the approach the Security Council reportedly Cyprus problem include talks between the cleared the way for the Greek Cypriots to leaders of the two communities on all issues avoid cooperation with the Turkish Cypriots. that concern the two sides. 4 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 98 / JULY 2020 UNFICYP’s mandate renewal followed UNSG lation for a negative coronavirus test each Antonio Guteres’ report on the UN Peace- time one crosses to the south. keeping force released on July 16, which stressed that the absence of a solution is in- On 26 July, the Louroujina/Akincilar Crossing Point Initiative organized a rally at the village creasingly unsustainable. In his report Guteres demanding the opening of a crossing point identified that rising tensions in and along the buffer zone, the possible opening of