Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A significant reduction of Greek Cypriots visiting the occupied part of Cyprus controlled by Turkey are crossing over through the buffer zone, known as the Green Line, has been recorded in the annual report of the European Commission, while a reduction of the volume of commercial transactions conducted in 2012 was noted.
The annual report for the crossing as well as the annual report fFinancing of Turkish Cypriots with community funds, was presented by the services of the Directorate General of Enlargement to the competent working group of the Council on June 12.
According to the Commission’s report for the Green Line, the number of Greek Cypriots visiting occupied Cyprus dropped from 621,406 in 2011 to 481,732 in 2012. A reduction was noted concerning Greek Cypriots visiting the occupied part of Cyprus by car, from 210,877 in 2011 to 154,778 in 2012. A smaller reduction was recorded as concerns Turkish Cypriots visiting the island’s free areas, from 937,789 in 2011 to 850,362 in 2012.
In the report, the Commission notes a reduction of commercial transactions’ volume at 17 percent in 2012 compared to the year 2011. Commercial transactions of €4,040,018 were conducted in 2012 compared to €4,827,454 in 2011.
In the report’s conclusions, Commission attributes the reduction of commercial transactions to the limited purpose of the Regulation for the Green Line.
