1. A way is being sought to grant citizenship to persons whose one parent is Turkish Cypriot and the other is a foreigner, with procedures that do not legalize the Turkish settlers who are illegally in the occupied territories. In the first stage, citizenship could be given to children of TCs who are married to Turkish citizens and for example have married abroad, met during their studies, etc. 3,530 such applications are pending (Ministry of Interior data).
2. One-Stop Shop for GC and TC entrepreneurs in October to facilitate business activities between GC and TC, i.e. operation of a Service Center for Entrepreneurs by the two communities on the standards of the operation of Citizen Service Centers (CSCs) . It is also discussed how to promote the issue of youth entrepreneurship and the cooperation of students/young entrepreneurs of the two communities – through the One-Stop Shop for entrepreneurs or by creating a Technical Committee for young people as exists e.g. on Gender Equality (recommendation by UN Deputy Secretary-General, Rosemary Di Carlo, to create a Technical Committee on Youth). The KEBE has a series of recommendations, such as the creation of a program for the inclusion of T/Cs in the labor market of the free regions, with the aim of limiting the transition of T/Cs abroad (immigration) for professional/economic reasons. There are also thoughts about a regular KEP but only for T/K, which will operate near a roadblock in Nicosia, so that our compatriots, who today complain about delays, inconvenience and bureaucracy for issuing official documents, are better and faster served of the Republic of Cyprus.
3. Increase in processed foods of non-animal origin that will be allowed to pass from the occupied territories to the free areas through the barricades (expansion of the list of products included in the Green Line Regulation). The Technical Committee on Entrepreneurship considers that products such as coffee, frozen vegetables, beer, concentrated juices, soft drinks, etc., would cause minimal reactions in the e/c community.
4. To become beneficiaries of GeSY(national healthcare system) for TCs who do not live and/or work in the free areas, with a formula that will allow the payment of a contribution to the Health System. This could be done initially with chronic T/C patients. Considerations are being made to invite T/C doctors/health workers to join the NHS if they wish, with all the obligations and rights that European professionals have, e.g. the doctors/health workers from Greece who have contracted with the OAY(organisation managing the system). The Technical Committee for Health has recommendations on the issue of medicines (large shortages are observed in the occupied territories and the Republic of Cyprus, from time to time, gives the T/C medicines).
5. Announcements regarding the implementation of the decision (which is delayed) to open bank accounts (for basic transactions) in the free areas from T/K residing in the occupied areas (based on a European directive). The Central Bank is looking for ways for transfers from banks in the free areas to the occupied areas (e.g. to the Turkish Cypriot Cooperative Bank), as is currently done in the process of paying allowances from the Republic of Cyprus to T/Cs residing in the occupied areas.
6. Governmental programs for financial support of joint business activities by E/C and T/C consortia (with the possibility of European funding).
7. Expanding the rights to pay benefits, such as widow’s benefit.
8. Approval of the appointments of E/K members to the Technical Committees.
9. Initiatives and actions in the field of education with the aim of promoting peace and reconciliation (e.g. organized contacts of schools/teachers/students, organized visits to cultural monuments in the occupied territories), but also in matters of learning the Turkish language for E /K and Greek language courses in T/K who live in the occupied areas and could spend some days/hours in the free areas for the relevant courses.
10. That 112, the number for emergencies, should start speaking Turkish.
11. Simplification of the procedure (acceleration of checks) that inconveniences T/K students and T/K workers during their daily crossing from the occupied areas to the free areas every morning and their return in the afternoon (“smart crossing”).
12. Re-operation of the Ad hoc Committee for the harmonization of T/Cs with the European acquis (and harmonization of T/Cs with the euro).
13. Information campaign for the intended solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
14. To emphasize once again the readiness of our side to open additional crossing points (barricades).
A first step. Not more not less. Sounds promising. The ROC needs to find ways to embrace their own citizens otherwise they will lean even more toward Turkey. I just hope that this is not just done out of pressure from the EU.
Will TCs that are granted a citizenship be forced to serve in the Cypriot army as well? That would be…interesting to say the least, dangerous at worst (for them).
3 comments
1. A way is being sought to grant citizenship to persons whose one parent is Turkish Cypriot and the other is a foreigner, with procedures that do not legalize the Turkish settlers who are illegally in the occupied territories. In the first stage, citizenship could be given to children of TCs who are married to Turkish citizens and for example have married abroad, met during their studies, etc. 3,530 such applications are pending (Ministry of Interior data).
2. One-Stop Shop for GC and TC entrepreneurs in October to facilitate business activities between GC and TC, i.e. operation of a Service Center for Entrepreneurs by the two communities on the standards of the operation of Citizen Service Centers (CSCs) . It is also discussed how to promote the issue of youth entrepreneurship and the cooperation of students/young entrepreneurs of the two communities – through the One-Stop Shop for entrepreneurs or by creating a Technical Committee for young people as exists e.g. on Gender Equality (recommendation by UN Deputy Secretary-General, Rosemary Di Carlo, to create a Technical Committee on Youth). The KEBE has a series of recommendations, such as the creation of a program for the inclusion of T/Cs in the labor market of the free regions, with the aim of limiting the transition of T/Cs abroad (immigration) for professional/economic reasons. There are also thoughts about a regular KEP but only for T/K, which will operate near a roadblock in Nicosia, so that our compatriots, who today complain about delays, inconvenience and bureaucracy for issuing official documents, are better and faster served of the Republic of Cyprus.
3. Increase in processed foods of non-animal origin that will be allowed to pass from the occupied territories to the free areas through the barricades (expansion of the list of products included in the Green Line Regulation). The Technical Committee on Entrepreneurship considers that products such as coffee, frozen vegetables, beer, concentrated juices, soft drinks, etc., would cause minimal reactions in the e/c community.
4. To become beneficiaries of GeSY(national healthcare system) for TCs who do not live and/or work in the free areas, with a formula that will allow the payment of a contribution to the Health System. This could be done initially with chronic T/C patients. Considerations are being made to invite T/C doctors/health workers to join the NHS if they wish, with all the obligations and rights that European professionals have, e.g. the doctors/health workers from Greece who have contracted with the OAY(organisation managing the system). The Technical Committee for Health has recommendations on the issue of medicines (large shortages are observed in the occupied territories and the Republic of Cyprus, from time to time, gives the T/C medicines).
5. Announcements regarding the implementation of the decision (which is delayed) to open bank accounts (for basic transactions) in the free areas from T/K residing in the occupied areas (based on a European directive). The Central Bank is looking for ways for transfers from banks in the free areas to the occupied areas (e.g. to the Turkish Cypriot Cooperative Bank), as is currently done in the process of paying allowances from the Republic of Cyprus to T/Cs residing in the occupied areas.
6. Governmental programs for financial support of joint business activities by E/C and T/C consortia (with the possibility of European funding).
7. Expanding the rights to pay benefits, such as widow’s benefit.
8. Approval of the appointments of E/K members to the Technical Committees.
9. Initiatives and actions in the field of education with the aim of promoting peace and reconciliation (e.g. organized contacts of schools/teachers/students, organized visits to cultural monuments in the occupied territories), but also in matters of learning the Turkish language for E /K and Greek language courses in T/K who live in the occupied areas and could spend some days/hours in the free areas for the relevant courses.
10. That 112, the number for emergencies, should start speaking Turkish.
11. Simplification of the procedure (acceleration of checks) that inconveniences T/K students and T/K workers during their daily crossing from the occupied areas to the free areas every morning and their return in the afternoon (“smart crossing”).
12. Re-operation of the Ad hoc Committee for the harmonization of T/Cs with the European acquis (and harmonization of T/Cs with the euro).
13. Information campaign for the intended solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
14. To emphasize once again the readiness of our side to open additional crossing points (barricades).
A first step. Not more not less. Sounds promising. The ROC needs to find ways to embrace their own citizens otherwise they will lean even more toward Turkey. I just hope that this is not just done out of pressure from the EU.
Will TCs that are granted a citizenship be forced to serve in the Cypriot army as well? That would be…interesting to say the least, dangerous at worst (for them).