Bi-communal Peace Initiative Calls for New Crossings Amid Growing Delays

The press conference, held in front of the Ledra Palace Hotel at 19:00, highlighted the urgent need to address the challenges faced by thousands of Cypriots who rely on existing crossings daily for work, education, medical needs, and social interaction. In their statement, the organizations emphasized that the voices of civil society on both sides of the divide must be heard, as all Cypriots are calling for more crossing points.

A letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also presented to a UN official, with copies to President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

In the statement prepared by the 80 organizations, it was noted that despite the meeting between the leaders and the UN Secretary-General in New York two months ago, the negotiation process remains at an impasse. The call for efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides has been left unanswered, further exacerbating the political deadlock.

The statement also highlighted the failure to implement the leaders' agreement to explore the opening of new checkpoints. This lack of progress continues to affect daily life for many Cypriots, particularly in terms of economic activity, medical needs, and social engagement. Many are facing long delays at existing checkpoints, and immediate measures are required to alleviate these bottlenecks.

The organizations are calling for new crossings to ease the traffic congestion, particularly in Nicosia, where the situation at existing crossings has become untenable. Checkpoints such as Mia Milia/Haspolat, Athienou/Pyroi-Louroujina/Akıncılar, and Kokkina/Magusa Gate in Nicosia are among those identified as critical to improving the current situation.

The statement also referenced a joint appeal by 14 political party leaders from both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities, who called for the opening of new crossings. This joint statement, published after discussions involving local government representatives, was presented under the patronage of the Slovak Ambassador.

The organizations that signed the statement are determined to continue their efforts and apply maximum pressure on authorities to open more crossings across the island, emphasizing the need for swift action to address the ongoing challenges.