Pressure mounts to open borders

Prime Minister Ersin Tatar faced an angry crowd outside parliament this week, demanding that the borders with the South be opened. Mr Tatar and his government are resisting calls to lift the barriers – but last night President Akıncı piled on the pressure, claiming health experts backed limited opening as early as Monday.

PRESIDENT Akıncı and Prime Minister Tatar and his government were in a stand-off last night over the explosive question of when to open the border to the South.

The President pushed for the gates to be opened as early as this Monday, but Mr Tatar, his deputy Kudret Özersay and health minister Ali Pilli are resisting on health grounds.

Other members of the Cabinet are believed to be divided on the issue. Cyprus Today understands there is unlikely to be any firm decision this weekend.

The impasse followed a meeting between Mr Akıncı, the PM, Mr Özersay and Mr Pilli yesterday afternoon, following which, the President told the press that the members of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health had agreed June 8, this Monday, as the date for opening the checkpoints. He called on the government to make a decision on the matter “without delay”.

But government supporters pointed out that the

Covid-19 virus outbreak is continuing in South Cyprus – with six new cases reported on Wednesday. Earlier, health minister Pilli had said there had to be “negative” test results from South Cyprus for 14 consecutive days before the borders can open.

The border issue has been at the forefront of politics this week, as a large crowd of angry demonstrators who rely on work in the south, converged on parliament on Thursday.

Prime Minister Ersin Tatar walked out to face the protesters who defied social distancing rules and held up banners saying: “We are hungry,” “Open the gates” “We are without alternative, how are we going to make a living?” and “We want to go back to work.”

Mr Tatar said that a “definite decision” would be taken on the opening of checkpoints “at the earliest possible time in consideration of the advice of the scientific board and health committee. . .which will take into consideration the general health of the public.

“It is our wish for the checkpoints to be opened at an early time with the formation of the appropriate conditions,” an unmasked Mr Tatar told angry protestors.

Mr Tatar added: “It is indeed our desire for you to continue [employment] in your work places. We will be notifying you of our decision. . .the work on this is continuing,” he said.

However, unsatisfied protesters demanded an exact date for the checkpoints to open. “We do not accept July 1 as a date for the opening of the checkpoints,” they said.

Mr Akıncı, who wants the checkpoints opened “with conditions”, said: “The Greek Cypriot side has determined the conditions to allowing workers to [crossing] to the South. It is necessary for Turkish Cypriot health experts to now put forward their views.

“Health officials have given us figures which shows that the outbreak in the South is under control.”

Mr Akıncı said that “no matter what political views . . .we are all concerned for the health of our public. The direction to be taken will be determined by health officials. Even those countries who are in a much worse condition than us have begun openings.”

Mr Akıncı said discussions were contiunuing as to what would happen when workers were returning from the South. “Are we going to test every worker when they return like the Greek Cypriot side envisages doing? What will our application be? This is an answer that needs to be determined by members of the Technical Committee on Health and not me as the president,” he said.

Mr Tatar, who had demanded the meeting with Mr Akıncı, raised concerns at the conditional opening of the checkpoints, saying: “We are warm to the idea of opening the borders . . . . but there is a need to minimise the risks . . . How will the

PCR tests be done? We also have the Pile example, there are concerns there. . .we are in agreement with the president that we should follow the advice of scientific boards and health committees. We will be having more meetings and determining a road map,” he said.

Mr Tatar added: “We fully respect the desire of workers to go to South Cyprus and work, or to get their salaries. However, we are also in a position that we must consider the health of the general public at large. The TRNC has zero cases. We must be very careful.”

Speaking to Cyprus Today, former parliamentary speaker and head of the Scientific Board of the Prime Ministry, Dr Sibel Siber, said: “Opening the borders means increasing the risks. What must be asked is, is the Rt (transmission rate) of the virus similar (to the TRNC?). The answer to this question must be given by the Scientific

Board.

“Secondly, does the TRNC have the necessary health foundations to deal with an outbreak? This must again be answered by the Scientific Board in accordance with statistics to be given to it by the Health Ministry.

“Thirdly, when entering the riskier period, is there sufficient number of health workers, able to conduct sufficient test numbers?”

Also seeing the protestors, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Kudret Özersay said that the demands of the protestors was not “unjustified”, adding that crossings to south Cyprus without a quarantine period would be possible as from July 1.

Main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman and his deputies and the Social Democratic Party (TDP) MP Hüseyin Angolemli came out of parliament to support the protesters.

Mr Erhürman said: “The protestors are complaining that they do not know how they will make a living, and they are without any other alternative. We are fully aware of the problem and we are continuing to talk with the government to resolve this.”

He reminded that the two leaders – Mr Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades – had discussed the prospect of opening the checkpoints on June 8.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Korkmazhan, of the Left Movement issued a statement calling for the checkpoints to be opened in stages, saying it will bring “great economic benefits” and “foster cooperation and communication” between the sides.

Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union wrote a letter to both leaders, calling for “initiative to be taken to allow for Turkish Cypriot workers to go back to work” in South Cyprus.