Monday, January 30/2017

Obviously no vote in the Cypriot reunification referendum, which we assume will be a no regardless of the terms of the final agreement. If we did, though, would be in the not unfamiliar position where our view of the ultimate universal good (reunification) would be at odds with our own personal advantage. As long as Cyprus is divided it is unlikely to join the Schengen Union. Schengen countries only allow non Citizens who are non Schengen and non EU to stay for 3 months out of any 6 in the whole Schengen area - which is most of Europe. So far Cyprus has argued, with limited justice, that the intractable North makes securing the border impossible. It has also been to their advantage to make entry easy for Russian tourists, to say nothing of Sri Lankan and Philippino domestic workers. Also increasing numbers of other Asian and Africans visible on the streets in recent years, some possibly students, although foreign students seen to have an easier time registering in the North.