Today's crossing points cannot meet the needs of people moving and more are needed for both pedestrians and vehicles to facilitate the growing number of people who need, for various reasons, to move 'from north to south' and vice versa", was emphasized in a joint statement of the parties, trade unions, organizations, which was read in the morning at a press conference at the House of Cooperation.
The statement was read on behalf of the participants, in Greek, by Christina Valanidou and in Turkish by Sener Elcil.
The press conference was held ahead of the bi-communal event to be held on May 27 to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first roadblock and the partial lifting of the traffic ban. The event called "Opening new roads, reuniting Cyprus" will take place at 09:45 in the morning with two parallel marches that will start from the end of Odu Ledra, here and there, and will join in the dead zone of Ledra Palace.
The declaration for more crossing points is signed by, among others, AKEL, the Turkish parties Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Renaissance Party (YKP), Community Democracy Party (TKP), United Cyprus (BKP), the Municipality of Famagusta, the PEO and trade unions as well as organizations from the two communities. In total, the joint statement is co-signed by 109 political formations, guilds and organizations.
All the organizations and groups that co-sign the joint statement declare that they are determined to work together to exert the maximum possible pressure in the direction of achieving the opening of crossing points throughout Cyprus.
Related discussions, it is reported, are ongoing in Nicosia (for pedestrians and vehicles), in the Athienou/Louroutzina area, as well as in the Kokkinon area and possibly in other areas as well.
It is pointed out that 20 years after the opening of the first crossing point, with barbed wire still keeping Cyprus divided in two, crossing points have become important in people's daily lives.
As reported, thousands of people pass through every day for reasons of work, education, health, joint programs, economic activities but also for social gathering and collaborations to plan actions within the framework of the reconciliation process.
Crossings, it is noted, enabled and facilitated contacts between communities—a critical element in the political developments and economic prosperity of areas adjacent to crossing points.
Since then, and despite the disappointing political developments, it is pointed out, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have not been discouraged and continue to meet each other.
"Current crossing points cannot meet the needs of people being trafficked. Red tape and unnecessary procedures create further barriers to crossings, hence the need for simplified and efficient procedures to reduce long queues and red tape is imperative,” it added.
But these measures, the joint statement stressed, are not sufficient as there is an ever-increasing pressure from affected people across Cyprus to open more crossing points.
This need, it is noted, has been recognized by the authorities, but no immediate decisions seem to have been taken. The UN Security Council, in its most recent resolution, "... urged the parties to reduce existing barriers to intercommunal communication."
"While we work together to improve the daily lives of all Cypriots and promote cooperation in all areas, we remain focused on the ultimate goal, namely the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our island under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with political equality, as the only way to ensure a sustainable prospect for a peaceful future in Cyprus," the joint statement concludes.
Source: KYPE