The Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that work on expanding and improving the Pile-Yiğitler road will definitely go ahead as planned.

Ertuğruloğlu also stated that his contacts with United Nations officials continue, and within this framework, he announced that he met with United Nations Special Representative Colin Stewart this morning.

The Turkish Cypriot side on Monday announced that abandoning work on improving and expanding the Pile-Yiğitler road was out of the question and that contrary to claims; construction work has not been halted.

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu on Monday denied reports that construction work on the Pile-Yiğitler road has been halted.

He expressed that the reports in this regard did not reflect the truth and added, “This road will definitely be constructed.”

Ertuğruloğlu also pointed out that contacts with UN officials and on the matter was ongoing and that he had met with UN Special Representative Colin Stewart this morning within this framework.

Earlier reports said the repair and widening of the road “continued with low intensity on Sunday morning, due to the weekend and the specific works were completed at noon on Sunday.”

A statement issued earlier on Monday also said that that the area was secured by Turkish Cypriot police and that during the works UN personnel and vehicles are not allowed to enter the construction zone in any way.

Tensions were running high on Friday after UN Peacekeepers attempted to prevent the work on the road, only to be met with fierce resistance from Turkish Cypriot workers.