The Republic of Cyprus has made representations to the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) over the new arrangements that have been announced by the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime with regard to people who wish to cross from the government-controlled to the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, which particularly affect the Greek Cypriot enclaved who live in the occupied areas, Presidential Commissioner Fotis Fotiou has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

“We have informed the UN that this new decision will create problems for the enclaved particularly during the period of Christmas because there are many people who would like to visit their parents who are enclaved in Rizokarpaso, as well as people who are enclaved and would like to spend the Christmas holidays with their families in the government-controlled areas,” Fotiou noted.

He said that the measure which comes into effect as of Sunday midnight basically prohibits anyone to visit Karpashia and the Μaronite villages, in the occupied areas. 

Fotiou clarified that the measure does not affect the teachers who go to the occupied areas in order to teach children there, noting, however, at the same time, that the puppet regime could take into consideration the humanitarian issue of the enclaved and the people who have resettled and are now living in the occupied areas.

“I have spoken with UNFICYP and I am waiting for their answers on Monday after they meet with the puppet regime,” he added.

Moreover he added that the fact that the other side justifies its decision based on the epidemiological outlook in the government-controlled areas is not an answer  because arrangements could be made to safeguard health security and at the same time address the issue of the enclaved who need to see their relatives.

On his part the Greek Cypriot Co-Chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, Leonidas Phylaktou, told CNA that he was informed on Friday evening by the Turkish Cypriot Co-Chair of the Committee about the new arrangements.

“We spoke again on Saturday and I told him about the practical problems which are created for the relatives of the enclaved who want to visit them particularly during the Christmas period. The message was conveyed but as you know it is not the Technical Committee that takes the decisions,” he noted.

As has been announced in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, crossings from the government-controlled areas to the occupied areas for less than 24 hours without quarantine stop as of 13.12.2020 at 23.59 local time. People who cross to the occupied areas, except from certain categories, will be subject to a seven-day quarantine. They will also have to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test carried out within the last 24 hours.

Before this decision, people who crossed in the occupied areas for less than 24 hours were exempted from quarantine, provided that they presented a negative PCR test.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.