Only 14 people in total passed through the roadblocks yesterday, after the occupation regime kept all crossing points to and from the occupied territories closed. Insisting on enforcing the quarantine measure for those who will enter the occupied territories for two weeks, it effectively closed the door even to many Turkish Cypriot workers who were waiting for how and how yesterday to go to work.
Despite the fact that about 30 to 35 people had expressed interest in moving to the free zones, by submitting an application and taking a test as provided by the protocol of the Republic of Cyprus, yesterday not even half of them finally passed in the free zones. According to the Ministry of Interior, a total of 14 people passed through the roadblocks yesterday. These are 8 employees and 6 people for medical reasons. The first Turkish Cypriots crossed into the free areas from the roadblocks of Agios Dometios, Pergamon / Strovilia.
Turkish Cypriot workers passed through checkpoints early in the morning, transporting pillows, cooking utensils and other personal care items to their vehicles, as they could not return to the occupied territories for at least 14 days. According to the occupants, some of them will be sleeping in their vehicles and others will be staying in places provided by their employers. The people who passed through the free areas have signed a form of the occupation regime that in case of their return to the occupied territories they will be quarantined for 14 days. In some cases, the employers themselves went to the roadblock to pick up the Turkish Cypriots, who would have to have the relevant certificate of their employer.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus insists that it will not remain indifferent to the attitude of the occupying regime. In his statements to KYPE, the Government Spokesman Kyriakos Kousios, stated that the President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiadis, is monitoring the developments regarding the issue of roadblocks and will take his decisions accordingly. "We will not remain indifferent," said the government spokesman, noting that the president is concerned, monitors developments and will make his decisions accordingly. He also noted that so far they have not been informed about the issue of about 30 people who according to a settlement was reached with Kudret Ozersay.
The authorities of the pseudo-state, however, do not show any willingness to cooperate on the issue of the reopening of the roadblocks. Tatar and Ozerzai continue on the same line without any indication of a change in their position on the issue. At the same time, voices of protest in the occupied territories are rising, with Mustafa Akinci again asking for explanations from the so-called government, which is ostentatiously ignoring the Turkish Cypriot leader. Kutret Ozersai even points out that there was no agreement between the two leaders but an understanding of the opening on June 8. The attitude of the United Nations, which is keeping a low profile on the issue, is also questionable.
According to the GTP information, the Yeni Duzen newspaper yesterday under the headline "Go but don't come", writes that while the Greek Cypriot leadership has since Monday lifted restrictions on roadblocks for specific groups, including workers and of the pupils / students, in the northern occupied part of Cyprus no clear position on the issue has been determined yet.
The newspaper quoted Coutret Ozersai as saying of the tests and quarantine, which also said that the "gates" were not closed and that the quarantine practice was being applied to those entering by land, sea and air. He claimed that the leaders of the two communities had reached an understanding and not an agreement, but for that to happen, the "government" would have to make a decision. He acknowledged that there was "a need for co-ordination between the government" and the so-called "presidency of democracy" and said that "July 1" was set by the "government" as the date for the start of quarantine, but that could change. He said that on July 1, it would be assessed whether the occupied ports and airports for Turkey would be opened, seeing the situation in that country at the time and without thinking politically.
Political stubbornness
T / C leader Mustafa Akinci, who in a written statement denounced the handling of the epidemiological report by the "Ministry of Health", spoke of a war from which he is trying to stay away from these difficult days. The "government", he added, even in such a period, has difficulty acting on the basis of common sense and scientificity and prefers "political stubbornness".
We were initially told that they would submit a book-based report and eventually sent a two-and-a-half-page document stating "temporary," which, according to initial estimates, is unfortunately not a quality and serious task. Our side should have prepared an exhibition at least a long time ago, like the one on the Greek side. "
Mr Akinci referred to the meeting of the scientific team the day before yesterday, where while the decision was made that the crossings to the "south" could begin before July 1, under certain specific health conditions, the "government" made a statement to the contrary.
Yeni Duzen writes that speaking in the "parliament" on Monday, the president of the Republican Party of the Turkish Republic, Tufan Erh .urman, stated that when the roadblocks were initially closed, the main reason was the shortcomings in the health system. He said they closed them because they thought they would be better prepared when they opened them and no one thought that the roadblocks would only be opened on the day the pandemic ended.
He said there were two groups concerned and added that one group wanted the roadblocks not to open at all and the other was worried about what would happen to the economy if they did not open.
All 5 of Rizokarpasos passed
In the free areas, there are five final year students from Rizokarpaso to participate in the Pancyprian exams, which started yesterday.
In his statements to KYPE, the Commissioner for the Presidency, Fotis Fotiou, made all the arrangements so that four of the five students could go to the free areas a few days ago. They have been tested for coronavirus and are staying with relatives, while another high school student is already in the free zones to take the exam.
Asked about this, Mr. Fotiou said that his office is ready to facilitate the transition of those trapped by the Greek Cypriots and Maronites, who want to go to and from the free zones, if the agreement of the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis and Leader Mustafa Akinci for crossing the roadblocks of certain categories of citizens. There are also individual cases that are treated on a humanitarian level, said Mr. Fotiou.
Source: PhileNews