By Jean Christou
UNFICYP IS planning to expand the new automated phone lines linking the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides following the unexpectedly high demand, and in spite of the high call charges set in the north by the Denktash regime.
Since its’ inauguration a week ago, the new system has been logging some 20, 000 calls a day between the two sides.
Demand is so high that callers are experiencing difficulties in getting through, said Norwegian diplomat Stein Stoa at a presentation at the UN- controlled Ledra Palace hotel yesterday evening.
The absence of a Turkish Cypriot presence at the gathering was noticeable, although they had been invited.
The presentation was held to thank the technicians involved in setting up the system, which was inaugurated by US envoy Richard Holbrooke on May 4, just before he left the island.
“The use of the system is proof enough it has been a valuable step forward, ” Stoa said. “We are happy to note that it is difficult to get through because it means the system is being used.”
The success of the project was marred last week by the announcement that the Turkish Cypriot side would be charging international rates on calls made from the north. Calls made from the government-held areas are charged at local rates.
But Unficyp Senior Adviser Peter Schmitz told the Cyprus Mail last night that the higher charges did not seem to be acting as a deterrent to the Turkish Cypriots.
“There is still a high demand and calls account for 50 per cent from each side,” he said. “It shows money is not an issue. They have the urge to call.”
He said the issue of the higher charges would, however, be raised with the Turkish Cypriot leadership. “We will see what justification they come up with,” he added.
The Turkish Cypriot authorities say they are charging international rates because the calls are beyond “the borders of the TRNC”.
The updated phone system is part of the Holbrooke’s pet project to improve relations between the two sides in the businessmen’s arena, an agreement reached in Brussels last November under his direction.
The project is being paid for by American money through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
There were previously only three manually operated lines between the two sides, capable of taking no more than 100,000 calls a year.
The 20 new automated lines, available on a 24-hour basis, will be able to handle some 750,000 calls.
Telephone, fax lines and e-mail are currently the only means of
communication between the two sides, since Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash banned all bi-communal meetings in the wake of the EU’s decision to open accession talks with the government of Cyprus.
