Denktas: The Gates Will Not Be Closed

After the decision of the TRNC Council of Ministers to allow people to pass the border between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side, the number of people waiting to pass from the border gates increase day by day. On the contrary to what was expected, more Greek Cypriots than Turkish Cypriots gathered at the border gates, and there occurred a chaos at Ledra Palace and Beyarmudu border gates. The Greek Cypriots who visited their old houses, villages, neighbors and holy places after waiting for 8-10 hours in the queues at the border gates return back happy in spite of all inconveniences they experienced at the gates.

Although U.N. Peace Force also tried to help people who wanted to pass to the other side and Turkish side increased its measures, intensive demand of Greek Cypriot people to pass to TRNC cannot be met.

TRNC increases continuously the number of personnel and computers to meet intensive demand. As relevant ministries and municipality try to solve problems, it is expected that the opening of 2,5 Miles border gate will ease problems experienced at the border gates. However, it is also expected that the demand to pass to TRNC will increase because of weekend and Easter Holiday.

There is also a busy traffic in regions near borders at both sides of Lefkosa and parking places cannot meet the demand.

TRNC police try to take measures by closing roads near Ledra Palace, while municipality teams try to put the region and buffer zone in order. Municipality also put mobile toilets and water barrels on the buffer zone.

Serdar Denktas and Interior, Rural Affairs and Housing Minister Mehmet Albayrak watched procedures on Ledra Palace border gate. Two ministers tried to determine problems at the spot during passages.

Serdar Denktas said, ”there is an unbelievable demand. It is not possible to meet the demand although we increased the number of computers and personnel two folds. Three or four computers will also be brought to the gate on Saturday. We are trying to do our best.” He said, ”we cannot say let them pass because there is intense demand that we cannot meet,” adding that they were working hard to prevent the chaos and set up an order.

When recalled that the real reason of panic was views that decision on free movement between the two sides could be lifted at any moment and gates would be closed, Denktas said, ”it is not a temporary decision, gates will not be closed. This decision will not be lifted.”

Upon another question, Denktas said that they did not have any contact with Greek Cypriot side to remove problems experienced during passages and added that however, they conveyed their demands to the other side through foreign missions.

Denktas said that they wanted positive answers regarding their demands on lifting different procedures which were implemented for TRNC citizens having Turkey origin and allowing Turkish Cypriot people to pass to the other side by their cars.

Albayrak said that they prepared a brochure in English and Greek including urgent services and telephone numbers to help Greek Cypriot people who passed to TRNC and stated that brochures could be distributed on border gates as of Saturday.

(EÖ-AÖ) 26.04.2003