Elections, UNDP delay border crossings

DELAYS in opening two new border crossing points are being blamed on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and last month’s elections in the TRNC which combined to halt the tender process and work already in progress.

“We are hoping to hear news about the delayed tenders any day,” said Meltem Onurkan Samani, general coordinator of the bicommunal technical committee which is overseeing creation of the crossings at Aplıç near Lefke and Derinya which is some 2km south of Gazimağusa.

“In addition, due to the early election in the TRNC, work being done by the government was left half-finished. We very much hope that once the new government comes to power the work will continue.

“On the Turkish Cypriot side of the crossings, all that remains to be done is the installation of cabins and infrastructure work such as electricity and telephones.”

Chairman of the Lefke Environment and Promotion Association Ahmet Hızlı said the road surface on the Turkish Cypriot side of the proposed Aplıç crossing had been completed but added that telephone lines were unnecessary, saying: “The satellite communications system put in place at the Yeşilırmak border crossing could be employed there as well.

“The main problem about Aplıç is that work in the South is being done very slowly. We are demanding that the UN puts pressure on the South to speed things up.”

Mr Hızlı said that once Aplıç was opened, residents of the Marathasa Valley in South Cyprus would have easy access to the TRNC coast in and tourists visiting the Troodos mountains would be able to come to see the attractions of Lefke.

Work to open the Derinya crossing is more advanced than at Aplıç, according to reports.