By Alex Mita
MORE THAN 90,000 Greek Cypriots and nearly 30,000 Turkish Cypriots have crossed through the checkpoints since the authorities in the north lifted the restrictions on movement of Cypriots to and from the occupied areas last week.
The mass flow of Cypriots across the checkpoints has prompted the government to examine further ways to ease traffic congestion in the areas. Interior Minister Andreas Christou met yesterday with police, civil defence and United Nations officials to review the situation and to discuss the opening of another checkpoint, the old Chetin Gayia stadium in Nicosia.
During the meeting, the officials studied aerial photographs of the ceasefire line around the Ledra Palace checkpoint and discussed ways to ease the flow.
Speaking after the meeting, Christou said some of the measures discussed included the resurfacing of the road next to the stadium to be used by cars and pedestrians, placing tents and creating access to the Roccas Bastion. The clearing up of the area around the Chetin Gayia stadium is expected to begin today.
Christou said the government was together with the UN were examining the possibility of opening five more checkpoints at Ledra Street, Orpheas, Dherynia, the race track at Ayios Dometios and the old Kyrenia road.
Reports said that Turkish Cypriots are clearing the Dherynia to Famagusta road to ease the flow of traffic to Famagusta.
“All the checkpoints should be opened to ease the flow of people to and from the north,” he said.
Christou said the Turkish Cypriot authorities were entirely to blame for the delays experienced in the movement of Greek Cypriots to the occupied areas.
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the crossing over of Turkish Cypriots to the free areas was continuing smoothly without any delay but slammed the authorities in the north for their “time consuming procedures”.
“The obstruction that is being observed cannot be explained unless Mr Denktash has lost interest in further facilitating the crossing over after getting publicity for partly lifting restrictions in movements that he himself has imposed and maintains for 29 years,” he said.
“On our part, the crossing over of Turkish Cypriots to the free areas is continuing smoothly and the facilities provided for the transfer of Turkish Cypriots have been quite effective.”
Chrysostomides urged Greek Cypriots crossing over to the north to visit ghettos inhabited by Turkish settlers in order to find out what settling on the island meant.
“I would advise some of the visitors to go to the ghettos where settlers are staying to see what occupation really means,” he said.
“Turkish settlers are one of the main obstacles to finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and I think we should not forget that,” he added.
There were attempts by some Greek Cypriots to cross over to the north through different areas of the buffer zone.
In a news release yesterday the UN warned crossing over through an unofficial checkpoint on the buffer zone could be dangerous.
“The official crossing point through the buffer zone in the Nicosia area is only through the Ledra Palace checkpoints and we urge the public not to attempt crossing to the north from any other point on the buffer zone,” the UN said.
“The buffer zone remains a potentially hazardous environment due to the poor state of the buildings and barriers and the existence of ceasefire lines on each side.”
Meanwhile the police have intensified their efforts to control the smuggling of goods from the north. Police spokesman Demitris Demetriou told the Cyprus Mail more than 401 boxes of cigarettes, 25 bottles of whisky as well as clothing were seized by the police during the return of Greek Cypriots to the free areas.
