FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 54 / DECEMBER 2016 Contents 1. Cyprus Problem ......................................................................................... 2 2. Hydrocarbons ............................................................................................ 5 3. Greek Cypriots .......................................................................................... 5 Economic Developments ........................................................................... 5 Domestic developments ............................................................................ 6 Labour Relations and Trade Unions .......................................................... 7 4. Turkish Cypriots ........................................................................................ 8 Economic Developments ........................................................................... 8 Relations with Turkey ................................................................................ 8 Domestic developments ............................................................................ 9 5. FES Cyprus Events ................................................................................... 11 FES NEWS - please follow and visit us on - @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. 54 / December 2016 1. Cyprus Problem both sides failed to find common ground on all territorial criteria they agreed to discuss three November began with high expectations from out of a long list of criteria namely: the number the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders of refugees to return, the percentage of terri- Mustafa Akinci and Nicos Anastasiades. A lead- tory for the two constituent states and the ers meeting was held in Mont Pelerin, Switzer- length of coastline for each state. On November land, from the 7th and 11th of the month to dis- 11, a marathon session between the leaders cuss territory and other interrelated issues. The produced significant progress as they reached outcome of the week-long negotiations, would agreement on the percentage of the Turkish have determined whether negotiations could Cypriot constituent state (reportedly 28.2% - continue into the final phase of the peace talks 29.2%). Nevertheless, this was not enough to namely the discussion of the issue of security close the issue of territory altogether. The two and guarantees at a multiparty/five party leaders therefore decided to take a recess and conference. reconvene in Mont Pelerin for a second round on November 20 for a two-day meeting on Both sides went to Mont Pelerin with differing territory. According to Turkish Cypriot spokes- positions. The Greek Cypriot side had set agree- man Baris Burcu, the break in the talks was ment on territory as a necessary prerequisite to requested by Anastasiades in order to confer proceed to the final stage. It therefore aimed at with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras securing agreement on certain criteria on and the Greek Cypriot party leaders at home. territorial adjustments and have these reflected on a map in order to agree for a date for a On November 21, the second round of negotia- multi-party conference on guarantees. On the tions in Mont Pelerin ended inconclusively as other hand, the Turkish Cypriot side had made discussions on territory did not yield the neces- clear that a map would not be produced until sary convergences on the three criteria thus the leaders decided on a date for a five-party resulting in a deadlock of the process. The Turk- conference with the guarantor powers. ish Cypriot side claimed that the Greek Cypriot side had “maximalist” positions while the Greek During the first two days of the talks the leaders Cypriot side although expressing that it did not discussed unresolved issues on chapters of the want to enter the blame game claimed that EU, the economy, governance, property and Turkish intransigence had led to the deadlock. power sharing with the exception of the issue of According to reports the Greek Cypriot side rotating presidency, which was not discussed. insisted that 78.000-92.000 refugees should Substantial discussion on territorial criteria have the right to return while the Turkish Cyp- began on November 9 with both sides submit- riot side would not accept more than 68.000, ting their positions in a unified document. As meaning that both sides had drawn a red line 2 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 54 / December 2016 on the issue of Morphou. Moreover, according attended a peace rally in the UN Controlled to Turkish Cypriot media a so-called mini crisis buffer zone to show their support towards the occurred at the beginning of the talks after a efforts for an agreed solution. The rally was leaked document from Greek Foreign Minister organized by 120 Turkish Cypriot and Greek Nicos Kotzias asserted that Greece would refuse Cypriot organizations. to attend an international conference unless it On November 23, in a written statement, the was agreed beforehand that guarantees would be abolished. In order to overcome the crises, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged UNSG’s Special Advisor, Espen Barth Eide spoke the leaders of the two communities to do their utmost to overcome the hurdle of lack of agree- with both the Greek and Turkish leaderships on the phone. It was after this exchange that the ment on the criteria for territorial adjustment in UN confirmed Greece would come to the meet- Mont Pelerin. “They have made significant pro- gress across chapters over the past eighteen ing without preconditions. months, advancing their talks further than ever Speaking to reporters upon his return from before. They should continue to build upon Mont Pelerin, Akinci said “the Greek Cypriot their substantial achievements. The Secretary- side without first agreeing over issues vital to General urges the leaders to continue their secure the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ political efforts in line with their shared commitment to equality such as rotating presidency and active do their utmost in order to reach a settlement participation in decision making, attempted to in 2016. Especially in a region and in a world conclude discussions on territory at the very marked by increasing tension, they must not let first meeting, ignoring the fact that some this historic opportunity slip,” the statement aspects of these issues were to be discussed [at continued, adding “He reminds them that the last, give-and-take, stage] during the five- temporary set-backs are not uncommon in party conference. Later in the month, Akinci peace processes as talks approach a final repeated that the Greek Cypriot side wanted to stage”. take what was important to them i.e. the map Following the disruption of the talks UN Special or agreement on the territorial adjustment criteria but to leave pending issues that were Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide engaged in important for the Turkish Cypriots, such as the shuttle diplomacy in order to explore avenues for the negotiations to resume and overcome rotating presidency. “We could not accept this,” the first crisis between Anastasiades and Akinci Akinci added. since May 2015. The two leaders were expected As the leaders of the two communities strug- to have dinner together on December 1st. gled to reach agreement in Mont Pelerin, thou- sands of people from both sides of the divide 3 FES CYPRUS NEWSLETTER Nr. 54 / December 2016 On November 30, British Foreign Secretary understanding of United Nations Security Coun- Boris Johnson visited Cyprus to demonstrate cil Resolution 1325, what it means, why it mat- the UK’s support for the Cypriot-led settlement ters, but more importantly how it is imple- talks. During the visit Johnson met Anastasiades mented in the everyday lives of women in and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in the Cyprus. UNSCR 1325 is a landmark interna- south, and Akinci in the north, as well as UN tional legal framework that addresses not only representatives and British UN peacekeepers the inordinate impact of war on women, but working in the buffer zone. also the pivotal role women should and do play in conflict management, conflict resolution and The Nicosia branches of the Republican Turkish sustainable peace. “We continue to see a Party (CTP) and AKEL came together to discuss considerable lack of addressing the implemen- the crisis in the talks after the failure in Mont tation of resolution 1325 to substantially Pelerin. Following the meeting, the two parties include women in the peace talks and also pointed out that the two sides should abstain across the board,” said Ambassador Mara Mari- from engaging in a "blame game" urging the naki, the European External Action Service's two leaders to move the process forward Principal Adviser on Gender and on the before the rise of nationalistic tendencies on implementation of UN Security Council Resolu- both sides. The two parties also discussed, tion 1325 on Women, Peace and Security during which concrete steps could be taken to contrib- her keynote address Marinaki added that the ute to the process and announced plans for absence of Cypriot women from the formal various activities and events which would bring peace negotiations shows a gap between the people from both sides of the divide together. endeavours of the international community and Earlier in the month, a delegation from the the realities of the overall peace process on the Social Democratic Party (TDP) visited separately