By Tania Khadder
TURKISH CYPRIOTS entered the government-controlled areas yesterday afternoon, with 1,500 crossing over by mid-afternoon. For some, it was the second or third visit since the opening of the checkpoints last week. Those Turkish Cypriots willing to speak to the Cyprus Mail said the opening of the checkpoints would benefit both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and added they were optimistic that freedom of movement would eventually lead to the reunification of the island.
“These are historic days for us – for both sides – and we hope it will continue and some new things can happen that will take us to permanent reunification,” Mustafa Hastan, 43, said yesterday. “I hope by the end of the year we will complete the peace process.”
Thirty-nine year-old Alev Bozir visited the south for the first time yesterday. “I see it as the same place. There is no difference,” she said. “It’s good for both sides because we need peace and it’s good for the Greek Cypriots to come to our side and see how we live and vice versa.”
For Nada Yolik, 46, the opening of the checkpoints will only take on meaning if it is the start of a more concrete solution to the Cyprus problem. “We are happy about it, and we hope it will be for peace, and not just let people go and come – that’s not enough,” she said.
“We want a solution but at the beginning it is good to see each other and that it’s possible to live together. I think the borders will stay open because people in the north will be very angry if it closes.”
Hassan Sutshioglu, 23, said that other than not being able to come over in his car, he has been very happy with the opening of the checkpoints.
“This is good for both sides and maybe we’ll be together in the future. This is my second time visiting the Greek side, and now I have new friends there.” He added, “I think it will work because most people are happy, but of course there are some older people from both sides who lived through the war and don’t want to mix.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish Daily News reported that Turkish newspapers are full of stories of people embracing each other and enjoying the restaurants on the Turkish side. It said that Greek Cypriots are spending a lot of money in the north, with an estimated $150-200,000 collected from Greek Cypriots on the Turkish side in just the first few days of free movement. It also said by contrast, Turkish Cypriots, who have a much lower per capita income, are not buying much but are coming to the free areas to see the ‘prosperity’ for themselves.
