By Jean Christou
SERDAR DENKTASH, the ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ of the breakaway state in the north yesterday pledged that the checkpoint on the Turkish Cypriot side would remain open despite problems because of the sheer volume of traffic.
He also announced that as of Monday a fine of 50 million Turkish lira (£15) per hour would be imposed on anyone who overstays the midnight deadline.
Denktash, son of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, said his father had raised some concerns at a meeting earlier in the day and suggested perhaps limiting the numbers to ease up on ‘police’ at the checkpoint but this would not happen, he said.
Many Greek Cypriots are rushing to visit the north while the checkpoint is open for fear the Turkish Cypriot side, notorious for going back on its word, would shut it down as suddenly as they had opened it.
Speaking at a joint press conference at his ‘Tourism Ministry’ in occupied Nicosia, yesterday evening, Denktash’s comments indicated the crossings would continue.
“These first days are a bit overloaded but instead of limiting the numbers we are trying to expand at the borders instead,” he said. “We are trying to get organised to give a better service but we will still face some troubles.”
He said that work was already underway to install eight computers and windows at the checkpoint, work, which was evident on the return journey.
Denktash, who has been the front-man for the entire initiative while his father has maintained an unusually low profile, said once the system is up and running people will be able to cross from one checkpoint and return through another, such as Pergamos.
Announcing the penalty for overstaying, Denktash said that it would go to pay the overtime of officers at the checkpoint.
Commenting on the scheme, unilaterally imposed by the Turkish Cypriot side, he said it seems to have had a good effect on both sides.
“We are hoping this will be the first stone for a better future for the whole island,” he said adding he hoped the Greek Cypriot side would relent and allow Turkish Cypriots to take their cars across. He said he did not believe that the circulation of Turkish Cypriot cars was a recognition issue. Denktash also called for Turkish settlers, whom he referred to as “Turkish Cypriots born in Turkey’ to be allowed to cross.
Referring to UN efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Denktash said: “It doesn’t matter if it’s the Annan plan or another plan. The point is to find a solution both people agree on and it shouldn’t be imposed. What we have in the past is in the past. We have made mistakes they have made mistakes let’s forget it and find a new approach.”
Denktash said that the plan to open the checkpoint was not out of the blue and that it had been in the planning for a long time. They did not discuss it with the Greek Cypriot side because “once we started negotiations they would go on for another 40 years”.
