Derinya crossing ‘ready to open on Monday’

THE TRNC will be ready to open a longawaited border crossing point at Derinya, near Gazimağusa, on Monday, and another at Aplıç, near Lefke, in 10 days’ time, Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman said yesterday, during a visit to Derinya to oversee final preparations.

“We will not be responsible for any delay in opening” the checkpoints, Dr Erhürman said — just days after President Mustafa Akıncı had said, before flying to New York on Tuesday, that the crossings would open “in the near future”.

The Greek Cypriot side had said last week it would be ready to open both crossings early in October.

The flurry of announcements took UN officials by surprise, with Unficyp spokesman Aleem Siddique saying yesterday neither side had informed them of an imminent opening at Derinya.

He said the peacekeeping force’s “priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of people crossing the buffer zone”, adding: “Unficyp stands ready to facilitate the opening of the crossing point, in close coordination with both sides, as soon as appropriate safety and welfare measures are taken.”

One delay has been in completing a 3km stretch of road on the TRNC side at Aplıç, and Transport and Public Works Minister Tolga Atakan visited the area last Thursday to see for himself ongoing work there, saying afterwards: “When the Greek Cypriots inform us of their readiness, we will be ready.”

Mr Akıncı said on Tuesday: “I continuously warned the previous and present government to be prepared. If the Greek Cypriot side is delaying, let them delay, but let us not do so.”