Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots say they are ready to open the Deryneia roadblock, a decision taken two years ago, according to what they said during today's visit to the roadblock.
In the occupied areas, the road has been asphalted but there is no electricity, nor have telephone lines been installed in the area where the inspection will take place. In the free areas, sidewalks have been constructed and the asphalt paving of Famagusta Avenue and the installation of prefabricated buildings remain. In the dead zone, however, no work has been done.
Representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties visited the Deryneia roadblock today under the auspices of Slovak Ambassador Oksana Tomova. A group of journalists from both sides covered the visit. The Mayor of Deryneia, Andros Karagiannis, members of the Famagusta Initiative groups, as well as residents of Deryneia and Famagusta residents from the two communities were waiting at the roadblock.
In a short statement, Mr. Karagiannis welcomed everyone to the remote Deryneia, and thanked the MPs and the Ambassador of Slovakia. "We declare our support for the opening of the Deryneia roadblock and the resolution of the Cyprus problem," he said.
In her statement, Ms. Tomova thanked the leaders and representatives of the E / C and C / C political parties for their positive response, readiness and cooperation. He said that their visit to the roadblock today "promotes the effort to support co-operation, build trust and peaceful coexistence between the two communities in Cyprus".
He said that the decision to visit the Deryneia roadblock today as well as the Lefkas roadblock next week has another dimension. "It is a good opportunity to meet Greek and Turkish Cypriots to exchange views on their daily problems," he said, referring to the positive impact it will have on the future development of the region when the roadblocks open.
Ms. Tomova also said that the opening of the roadblocks remains one of the most important CEEs agreed by the leaders of the two communities.
He praised the hard work of all those who work to open the roadblocks as soon as possible, while praising the contribution of UNFICYP, UNDP, the EU and the Technical Committee for the Opening of Roadblocks and the Mayor of Deryneia for their help and the great offer them throughout the process.
As Christakis Nikitas of the "Famagusta is Our City" committee stated, "we are not political parties, we are citizens. We come from Famagusta. "We support the talks and the solution of the Cyprus problem and we are here to show our interest."
Okan Daly from the Famagusta Initiative expressed his disappointment because for the past two years since it was announced, the road has not been opened and this is a great disappointment since nothing - as he said - happened in the dead zone and asked for the Deryneia roadblock to be opened as soon as possible. .
As Mr. Karagiannis stated in KYPE, both sides will have financial benefit. It will create trade, people will come closer, they will get to know each other, communication and communication will improve and it will be the first step of returning the enclosed area of Famagusta and resolving the Cyprus problem.
Famagusta Initiative Committee member Khalil Obasi, who was born in Moutalo, told KYPE that "we need peace and cooperation between the two sides to create a positive atmosphere."
"We are all Cypriots and this road can be the road to peace. "We have to open it," he said, adding that while he was born in Mouttalo, Paphos, he has lived in Famagusta since 1974, just two minutes from the roadblock. However, he had to cross the roadblock in Vrysoules to make the round to the Deryneia roadblock, which took about 40 minutes.
Source: KYPE