By Alex Mita
AFTER 48 hours of silence, the government yesterday expressed guarded enthusiasm when commenting on the move by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to allow Greek and Turkish Cypriots to cross to the other side. The government’s response came after Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou gave Denktash’s move the thumbs up.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the government welcomed the easing of restrictions.
“The government is in no way opposed to the easing of restrictions for the movement of Cypriots,” Chrysostomides said.
“This move, even the partial lifting of restrictions, is something positive but what we demand is to end the Turkish occupation and solve the problem. Our firm policy is to secure free movement of all the legal residents in Cyprus throughout the territory of the Republic, he stressed.
“On our part we are doing everything possible to ease the flow of Turkish Cypriots to the free areas.”
Chrysostomides stressed the move did not constitute the solution of the Cyprus problem and repeated the government’s determination to reach a settlement under the auspices of the United Nations.
After a meeting on Thursday morning, the cabinet decided to provide buses for the free transport for Turkish Cypriots to Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos. The Ministry of Communications and Works has placed signs outside the Ledra Palace checkpoint, welcoming the Turkish Cypriots.
“Welcome. We would like to inform you that there are buses for your free transport to Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos a few metres further down, the sign,” reads. “We wish you a pleasant stay.”
The government has also placed Turkish-speaking police officers to assist Turkish Cypriots and to answer queries when they cross over, while passport authorities have been instructed to speed up procedures for issuing Republic passports to Turkish Cypriot applicants.
Chrysostomides brushed aside comments that Denktash’s move was widely praised.
“It does not appear that there was any positive reaction to his announcement,” he said.
“Denktash maintained a very negative stance during the UN-led peace talks, something that led efforts to find a settlement to a deadlock. Statements by foreign governments and officials made it clear that they want genuine moves that would lead to a settlement.”
Chrysostomides said President Tassos Papadopoulos has issued instructions to speed procedures for a series of support measures for Turkish Cypriots saying he wanted the measures to be ready to be implemented straight away.
“The support measures for Turkish Cypriots are on their final stage of preparation and we are planning to announce them next Wednesday,” Chysostomides said.
The measures include facilitating the employment of Turkish Cypriots, the movement and exportation of products from the occupied areas and inclusion of the Republic’s presidential elections. The government measures aim to improve living standards so that Turkish Cypriots would not leave the island and to allow them to benefit from the island’s accession to the European Union.
