A wise step has been taken in Cyprus

All these years both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots refused to permit crossings from one section into the other.

‘The wall would collapse and you would be trapped under it’
That anomaly caused great concern in recent months. It has been claimed that after the Greek Cypriots joined the European Union, those living in the KKTC would rush to the border gates, trying to tear down the wall as had been the case in East Germany. The concern the KKTC officials felt was growing.

Greek Cypriots were planning to announce liberalization measures in a few weeks and this led to the assumption that once this happened it would become all the more difficult to keep the Turkish Cypriot community in check.

The KKTC administration must have seen the risk and, more importantly, "read" the Turkish Cypriot community well. As a result, it has altered its stance all of a sudden. It has shown that it wants a reconciliation with its people. It has destroyed a major taboo.

This decision will make a big difference
The most important impact of this move will be psychological. People will be relieved. They will trust their administration more.

This move will have a political effect too. If the KKTC administration had attempted to "lie down in the trenches" the Greeks would take a series of steps after a while. Opening their doors wide for the Turkish side they would whet the appetite of the Turkish Cypriots.

That might fuel the Turkish Cypriots’ anger at the KKTC administration. There was the possibility that the Turkish Cypriots would force the doors.

By taking preemptive action, the KKTC has shown that it trusts its own people, that the North will not be an open air prison.

There are also economic reasons for that decision.

The door is being opened to the KKTC citizens’ crossing into the South to work without any shame. Also, by permitting Greek Cypriots to cross into the North, a hole is being opened in the "psychological barrier" between the two sections. Also, that would help perk up the economy.

Liberalization of trade and travel between the two communities is an enormous step, the very thing sought by Greek Cypriots, Americans and the British to bring about a "normalization" process.

This is the first sign indicating that the Turkish side has started acting in a realistic manner.

Now the ball is in the Greek Cypriots’ court.

Now we will test their sincerity, see how good has been their intentions, how true their statements. We will see whether they really want to bring about a solution, whether they will leave the past aside and adopt a new, more flexible stance.

It will be a pity if the Greek Cypriots adopt the kind of stance that would reflect the "stale" approaches of the past. In other words, it will be a pity if the Greek Cypriots say, for example, "If the Turkish Cypriots attempted to issue to our citizens travelling documents bearing the stamp of the KKTC as they entered through the gates, this will amount to a ‘winning recognition for the KKTC’ trick, something we cannot accept."

This is the time to do exactly the opposite of that. The more steps they take now, the quicker new steps can be taken towards a solution. There is no need to erect new taboos in place of the ones that have been destroyed.

Come, let us make a new beginning.

Note: THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED