The Republic of Cyprus made again, on Monday, representations to the United Nations concerning the crossings of Greek Cypriots through the Limnitis crossing point, as well as about the fact that members of families of enclaved Greek Cypriots, who are in the free areas of the Republic, are not able to return to their homes in the Turkish-occupied areas without quarantine, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou told CNA.
 
Asked about protestations by Kato Pyrgos residents about the decision of the occupation regime to allow Turkish Cypriot workers to cross to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, with a negative COVID-19 test that is valid for seven days, while Greek Cypriots continue to be unable to cross in the same way through Limnitis, in order to go to Nicosia, Photiou said that the easing of restrictions for crossings, announced last Friday in the Turkish-occupied areas, concerns Turkish Cypriot workers who cross to the free areas of the Republic and Greek Cypriot workers who cross to the Turkish-occupied areas.
 
This basically concerns our teachers who teach in our schools, in the occupied areas, Photiou went on, adding that in this case workers are able to cross after presenting a negative COVID-19 test valid for seven days. Therefore, these people need to do a test once a week, he added.

He also said that the easing in restrictions has no effect on other people. Therefore, he said, we made also today representations to the United Nations regarding the crossings of Kato Pyrgos residents, who need to cross from Limnitis in order to go to Nicosia, mostly to transport goods and for medical reasons. This also affects the families of enclaved Greek Cypriots who remain in the free areas of the Republic and are unable to return to the Turkish-occupied areas, unless they quarantine themselves, he added.
 
He explained that this has an impact on 2-3 families of enclaved Greek Cypriots, who have either contracted COVID-19 or were close contacts.
 
“We asked the United Nations for quite some time now that they are allowed to return to the occupied areas and remain in self-isolation in their homes, but they do not accept, therefore in order to got to the occupied areas they need to quarantine themselves in hotels, paying for their accommodation” he added.
 
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated UN led efforts to reunify the island under a federal roof have so far failed to yield results.