President Ersin Tatar said on Monday that he has proposed the opening of a new crossing point in Akıncılar in addition to the ongoing discussions about the Haspolat checkpoint.
Speaking to reporters upon his return to the Presidential Palace on Monday afternoon, President Ersin Tatar Tatar said he had proposed the opening of a new crossing point in Akıncılar in addition to the ongoing discussions about the Haspolat checkpoint.
He emphasized that consultations on these proposals would continue in the coming weeks.
Tatar noted that the meeting stemmed from informal discussions held in New York on October 15, 2024, and highlighted progress on the opening of new crossing points. He explained that discussions on opening the Haspolat checkpoint had been ongoing for three months through the efforts of special representatives.
However, the Greek Cypriot side continued to push for transit passage between Kato Pyrgos and Erenköy without crossing into the TRNC.
To address this, Tatar proposed the Akıncılar crossing as a constructive alternative. “I suggested this as a positive and practical solution to meet their expectations regarding crossing points,” Tatar said, emphasizing the importance of new crossings in alleviating the growing traffic at the Metehan checkpoint, which handles 65% of the traffic across the nine existing crossing points.
Tatar also addressed the heavy congestion at the Metehan checkpoint, stating that steps had been taken on the Turkish Cypriot side, including expanding the road to three lanes and increasing police, security, and immigration staff.
However, the Greek Cypriot side has yet to follow suit, maintaining a single-lane road. Tatar conveyed this issue to Christodoulides, who confirmed that similar work would begin in South Cyprus.
Tatar highlighted upcoming developments, including a visit by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo to Cyprus in February and a broader meeting in March, where he plans to hold another discussion with Christodoulides.
Tatar reported that 8 million crossings were recorded in 2024, underscoring the significance of such steps in fostering cooperation.
He urged the EU to address barriers preventing TRNC citizens from crossing and criticized policies that discriminate among citizens. Additionally, he dismissed concerns about tourism-related crossing issues, noting that Christodoulides confirmed there were no impediments.
Tatar reaffirmed that consultations on border crossings would continue and emphasized the strategic importance of opening the Haspolat and Akıncılar checkpoints.
He added that these crossings would benefit both sides, especially given their proximity to Greek Cypriot economic zones.
However, he firmly opposed any transit passages that could compromise TRNC security, reiterating a position held for 13 years.
The leaders plan to meet again before February 10 to reassess the situation and advance discussions on crossing point developments.
Speaking earlier before departing from the buffer zone, Tatar explained that such efforts could lead to tangible socio-economic benefits for both communities.
“There are eight million crossings annually. This is a significant number, and it is our responsibility to make life easier for both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots,” Tatar said.