President Ersin Tatar conducted inspections at the Yiğitler-Pile Road.

Accompanied by Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and Beyarmudu Mayor Bülent Bebek, President Tatar held a press briefing at Bayraktepe following a briefing provided to him in the presence of the Commander of the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces and the Commander of the Security Forces.

Touching upon his recent meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, Tatar stated that he was surprised by the Greek Cypriot leader’s attempt to present unrelated ideas as a package, deviating from the understandings reached during the informal dinner hosted by the UN Secretary-General in New York on October 15, 2024.

Stating that this effort by the Greek Cypriot leader was an attempt to block the opening of new crossing points, he criticized the reintroduction of previously discussed, debated, and rejected issues as part of an integrated package, describing it as a stance far from goodwill.

Referring to the Christodoulides’ stance on the Pile Road, the President stressed that the operation of the Yiğitler-Pile Road would ease the daily lives of residents in Pile and also bring relief to the Beyarmudu Border Crossing.

Tatar highlighted that the United Nations had hindered progress on the Yiğitler-Pile Road by imposing conditions and obstructing the process.

“While roads from Pile to Larnaca and the buffer zone have been constructed by the Greek Cypriot side, and universities and public buildings have been built in the buffer zone, the UN has turned a blind eye to these developments. However, it is obstructing the completion of the Yiğitler-Pile Road, which aims to address humanitarian concerns such as facilitating transportation and alleviating traffic congestion in Beyarmudu. I find it difficult to understand the challenges imposed on the completion of the Yiğitler-Pile Road,” the President said.

Noting that 8.5 kilometers of the Yiğitler-Pile Road had already been paved, and the remaining section had been stabilized and extended to Pile, Tatar highlighted unnecessary difficulties caused by the UN in the area known as “10 Evler” and stressed the urgency of completing this road.

Noting that during his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader, he presented proposals to alleviate congestion at the border crossings in Metahan, he stressed that opening the Haspolat crossing, along with the Akıncılar crossing, would significantly ease the flow of crossings.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side had made demands for transit corridors in Erenköy and Kiracıköy that would connect Greek Cypriot territories directly, Tatar said, “It is impossible for us to accept these proposals, which aim to provide tactical and strategic advantages. I expect the Greek Cypriot leader to abandon empty dreams, including territorial gains, and to take a positive approach toward opening the Haspolat and Akıncılar border crossings, which would benefit both communities.”

Stressing that with the completion of the remaining 1.3 kilometers of the Yiğitler-Pile Road, the route could be opened in a very short time, President Tatar added, “In my next meeting, I will bring this issue to the agenda and demand that the UN fulfill its responsibilities. We will highlight our objection to the UN’s stance of not opposing the construction of roads from Pile to Larnaca and other regions, or the building of facilities in the buffer zone, but preventing travel from Yiğitler to Pile on our own land.”