Reem Al Hashimy UAE's Minister of State for International Co-operation, with Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, left, and Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides at the Philia Forum in Athens earlier in the week. AFP
Reem Al Hashimy UAE's Minister of State for International Co-operation, with Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, left, and Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides at the Philia Forum in Athens earlier in the week. AFP
Reem Al Hashimy UAE's Minister of State for International Co-operation, with Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, left, and Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides a
Cyprus has been effectively partitioned for almost half a century. The north is run by a Turkish Cypriot government while the remaining part of the island is run by the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot administration. Almost half a century after the truce line emerged, the "Green Zone" has become a tranquil wilderness. Still patrolled by UN peacekeepers, it has also served as a backdrop for many rounds of talks over the future of the divided Eastern Mediterranean island.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, is poised to launch a fresh round of talks within weeks. But the problem is that he will almost certainly stick to the tried and failed formulas of the past, which means the prospect of failure is high.
If you have heard a bit more about Cyprus in recent times, that is because the region around it has become much more contested.
Nicosia in Cyprus is the last divided capital city in Europe. Today marks the date in 1983 when the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared independence, nine years after Turkish forces landed on the island. The TRNC remains unrecognised by the international community, apart from Turkey. Declan McVeigh / The National
A shot of no-man’s-land in Nicosia from the Turkish side of the divided Cyprus capital. Declan McVeigh / The National
Turkish Cypriot graves near Famagusta on the island's east coast. Declan McVeigh / The National
Omeriye Mosque is the only Muslim place of worship open on the Greek side of Nicosia. Declan McVeigh / The National
A shot of no-man’s-land, taken from the Greek sector of Nicosia. Local people refer to this UN buffer area - established in 1964 and expanded 10 years later - as the "dead zone". Here ceasefire lines are sometimes just metres apart. Declan McVeigh / The National
The UN's Green Line cuts 180 kilometres across the island of Cyprus and divides the capital, Nicosia, in two. Cyprus has endured this partition since 1974. Declan McVeigh / The National
Ledra Street is the only foot crossing between the Turkish and Greek sectors of Nicosia. Visitors will have their passports stamped with 90-day visas by TRNC officials upon entering Northern Cyprus. There is a building nearby that acts as a watchtower for general public and tourists. Declan McVeigh / The National
Part of the UN's Green Line which cuts 180 kilometres across the island of Cyprus and divides its capital, Nicosia, in two. Visitors can walk down Nicosia's busy shopping streets, take a few turns, and be confronted by barricades dividing north from south. Declan McVeigh / The National
Nicosia is dotted with memorials to past conflicts. The 1973 Liberty Monument in the city's Greek zone honours paramilitary fighters of Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, who fought British forces between 1955 and 1959. Declan McVeigh / The National
Famagusta beach with abandoned hotels and buildings form a 'ghost town' since Turkish forces landed on the island in 1974. Declan McVeigh / The National
Much of Famagusta beach in eastern Cyprus and its ghost town remain off-limits. Turkey continues to station thousands of troops on the divided island. Declan McVeigh / The National
During the Cold War, the island was referred to as Nato's unsinkable aircraft carrier, acting as a bulwark against any Soviet aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean. These days, the Turkish push into the wider region and its alliance-building in the Libyan city of Misurata is putting Cyprus at the intersection of Ankara's ambitions.
Post-Soviet Russia's skin in the game, meanwhile, involves doggedly ensuring that it will not be displaced from its naval bases around Latakia, the principal port city of nearby Syria. The proven deposits of natural gas across the area have also created a basin in which the interests of a handful of countries are mixed up.
The division of Cyprus in the 1970s raised a brief flurry of high-level diplomacy to stop Nato members going to war against each other. Apart from Greece being in direct competition with Turkey, Britain is heavily involved as well, as a "guarantor power" and the possessor of two sovereign bases on the island. These days Britain cleaves ever closer to the Turkish position with a diminished influence, given that Cyprus seeks to definite itself as a platform to Europe and London no longer has a voice within the 27-nation bloc.
When the next UN-organised talks do begin, the choices boil down to two options.
A federal state that is comprised of two largely autonomous zones, roughly along the Green Zone division but with some map-based concessions, has been favoured for decades. In fact, years of negotiations have been devoted to this goal. Turkey, on the other hand, is pushing for a permanent division of the island. According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, there is only a two-state solution to the island.
A Turkish Navy warship patrolling next to Turkey's drilling ship 'Fatih' dispatched towards the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus. The proven deposits of natural gas across the area has also created a basin in which the interests of a handful of countries are mixed up. AFP
The incentive for Mr Erdogan is obvious. Only Turkey recognises the self-declared republic in the north, which is propped up by Ankara's military deployment and Turkish migration from the mainland. The two-state solution would be a boon for Turkey but it is hard to see how it benefits anyone else. It is also hard to see how it would benefit the Turkish-speaking Cypriots living there.
Fresh thinking on the Cyprus crisis is often a chimera. The novelty of new proposals is often promoted cynically just to disrupt the prospect of resolution.
How then to describe the prospects for the latest round of talks?
Last week’s "Philia Forum" in Athens was attended by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Iraq. Nikos Christodoulides, the Cypriot Foreign Minister, was also a strong presence in the deliberations. The meeting showed the shared strategic footprint of the attendees.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled out discussing a federal system to reunify Cyprus, insisting that a two-state accord is the only solution for the ethnically split island. AP Photo
The orientation of the Philia Forum participants is towards investment and modernisation of the economy to meet demographic demands. The shared emphasis in the dialogue provides a platform for co-operation that would have seemed remote a decade ago. A communique from Mr Christodoulides said that partnership could not only unleash opportunities but also enable the better management of points of instability.
Their message stood in contrast to the narrative of confrontations, problems and conflicts that Cyprus struggles to contain and blunt.
Ultimately the EU provides the Cypriots with the only platform for resolution of the dispute. When Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general, presented his plan for a federal state in 2004, the Turkish side embraced it but the Greek part of the island said no. Nicosia still entered the EU.
A decade and a half later, the bizonal state would look much like Annan’s team envisaged. There is also a soft version of Mr Erdogan’s two-state plan, which would be a managed separation of the states within the EU. But there is a glitch in this plan.
In 2004, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan had proposed what could be a viable solution in today's political context. AFP
As the 28-nation bloc’s border and coast guard agency, Frontex, grows in powers, and common policies on immigration are more entrenched, parts of this shared membership would be hard for Turkey to stomach. After all, this would effectively mean the withdrawal of most, if not all, of its 30,000 troops stationed on the island. It would also lead to the demise of the UK's guarantor-ship of the island, which dates back to the 1960s.
The issue, obviously, is that both these countries are non-EU members, with the UK having recently left the bloc and Turkey now destined never to join.
There are other details, such as compensating the Greek Cypriots for the two-thirds of the property in the north that is owned by them and the return of the deserted resort of Varosha as well as other lands beyond the verdant demilitarised zone.
In the event that these issues could be addressed, there would be a round of referendum campaigns with outcomes that are hard to forecast. Then the emphasis would be on the rebuilding of Cyprus. A multi-year transition would almost certainly be set in train. Given the circumstances of the region, particularly the increasing exploration and exploitation of the natural gas deposits, that would need a robust enforcement mechanism.
It is clear that many nations share an incentive for a Cyprus solution. How to get stakeholders to buy into the process and reinforce its momentum needs to be added as a strand to the talks.
Damien McElroy is the London bureau chief at The National
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Name:Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder:Muhammad Khalid
Based:Abu Dhabi
Sector:Generative AI
Initial investment:Undisclosed
Investment stage:Series A
Investors:Core42
Current number of staff:47
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Starring:Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
EPL's youngest
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) 15 years, 181 days old
Max Dowman (Arsenal) 15 years, 235 days old
Jeremy Monga (Leicester) 15 years, 271 days old
Harvey Elliott (Fulham) 16 years, 30 days old
Matthew Briggs (Fulham) 16 years, 68 days old
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
Norwich 1
Josip Drmic 78'
2-3 on penalties
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
