Cyprus-Forum.com

[turkkan]

Christofias ponders Limnitis offer
By Elias Hazou

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias has not ruled out an offer by the Turkish Cypriot side that would see the opening of the Limnitis crossing in the northwest of the island in exchange for free access for Turkish Cypriots to the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina.

The government wants a crossing to be opened at Limnitis that would allow Greek Cypriot residents of Pyrgos to travel directly to occupied Morphou, which is only a few miles away, instead of having to take the long route south and via Nicosia.

Earlier this year, the Turkish Cypriots offered to open Limnitis if the government agreed to the construction of a road linking the mixed village of Pyla to the north. The government turned down the offer.

Now, the enclave of Kokkina has been put on the table.

Kokkina was one of the Turkish Cypriot enclaves prior to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. It is hemmed in on three sides by mountainous territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus with the Mediterranean Sea (Morphou Bay) on its northern flank. The exclave sits several kilometres away from the occupied areas and is a place which has special symbolic significance for the Cypriots because of the events of August 1964.

The government of the Republic of Cyprus saw Kokkina as a point of insertion for Turkish paramilitaries and weaponry in Cyprus. On 6 August 1964, elements of the Greek Cypriot National Guard and Greek Army units led by General George Grivas attacked the area around Kokkina and surrounded the village forcing its defenders and the civilian population to retreat to a narrow beachhead. The defenders consisted of elements of the Turkish Resistance Organisation and a number of the volunteers mentioned above. A heavy artillery barrage (with naval support) of the beachhead followed causing a number of casualties and heavy damage to the village.

The defenders, while completely out powered and lacking supplies, managed to hold their positions until 8 August, when Turkey decided to attack. Turkish jet fighters bombed military and civilian targets in the area employing among other weapons napalm bombs.

According to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, travel to Kokkina would be limited to civilians only - such as families wishing to visit their sons who serve in army camps there. Access would be denied to all military vehicles, and no military ordnance would be allowed via this access point, Talat said.

“This is a fully justified request, but so far we have not received an answer [from the Greek Cypriot side],” said Talat.

“We have put forward a very reasonable proposal. Kokkina is part of the territory of the ‘TRNC’, and we are asking for free access by land. We have also included the condition that no military personnel or vehicles would make use of this road.”

Responding, Christofias said yesterday that the government was considering the idea, but added that Talat was “speaking only half the truth”.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, said Christofias, had forgotten to mention that his side was also asking that gasoline be allowed into Kokkina for the purpose of refuelling troops there.

“We have no objection to people crossing through [to Kokkina], but as far as refuelling of the occupation troops go, I don’t know who would agree to this,” said Christofias.

“Are we now to give our consent to the refuelling of Turkish troops?”

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[halil]

President Talat Responds to Christofias’ Statement on the Yesilirmak Crossing

http://www.kktcb.eu/index.php?tpl=show_news&id=432


President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Turkish Cypriots asked for free crossings to Erenkoy, which is TRNC territory, simultaneously with the opening of the Yesilirmak crossing point. Talat stated that the Greek Cypriot side has not yet responded to this request.

The President stated that their request for free crossings to Erenkoy is a legitimate request. Talat said that the issue comes up during every meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias.

President Talat was responding to the questions of the Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK) on Christofias’ statements published in the Greek Cypriot media. According to media reports, Christofias stated that the Turkish military is preventing the opening of the Yesilirmak crossing.

Noting that the issue has nothing to do with the military, the President said that the issue of opening the Yesilirmak crossing point has been on the agenda for a long time and highlighted that the opening of Yesilirmak and other crossing points have been included in the 21 March agreement.

Talat stated that one of the reasons why they mentioned other crossing points along with Yesilirmak in the 21 March Agreement, was to construct the Pyla-Yigitler road since there are serious problems regarding crossing into Pyla through the British bases. Talat added that they requested free crossings to the Erenkoy enclave simultaneously with the opening of the Yesilirmak crossing point.

The President said that the Greek Cypriot side and the UN had a rigid stance regarding the Pyla-Yigitler road.

“Therefore, the issue of free crossings to Erenkoy was brought up,” said Talat. “The Turkish Cypriot side prepared a very practical and rational proposal because Erenkoy is TRNC territory and we are talking about free crossings from TRNC territory to TRNC territory. Therefore, we asked for free crossings to the area excluding military ammunition and equipment.”
“The Greek Cypriot side has not yet answered. However, Mr. Christofias has claimed that the crossing has not opened due to the stubbornness of the army. This claim is not founded on facts. This issue comes up in almost all our meetings and I remind them that they have to evaluate our proposal and get back to us. And then we assign the task to Ozdil Nami and Georgios Iacovou. This is the case. Therefore, we are expecting the Greek Cypriot side to assess the situation and give us a concrete response regarding Erenkoy… Despite the fact that Erenkoy is part of the TRNC territory, we are not asking for the crossing of military ammunition. This is just about civilian crossings, in other words, the crossing of the families of the army personnel in Erenkoy.”

Talat stated that the Yesilirmak crossing point will enable the inhabitants of Pirgos to travel to Nicosia more easily but added that the crossing point will not contribute to the economic and social relations between the two sides. Talat said that similarly, the Turkish Cypriots have difficulty in travelling to Erenkoy.

TAK/Translation: Press Office

[Kikapu]

"said Talat. “The Turkish Cypriot side prepared a very practical and rational proposal because Erenkoy is TRNC territory and we are talking about free crossings from TRNC territory to TRNC territory."

Really.???

The UN and the EU have different version, because they state that all of Cypriot territory is part of the Republic of Cyprus.!

Perhaps the UN and the EU is wrong and Talat is correct.!!

What do you think.???

[Viewpoint]

"said Talat. “The Turkish Cypriot side prepared a very practical and rational proposal because Erenkoy is TRNC territory and we are talking about free crossings from TRNC territory to TRNC territory."

Really.???

The UN and the EU have different version, because they state that all of Cypriot territory is part of the Republic of Cyprus.!

Perhaps the UN and the EU is wrong and Talat is correct.!!

What do you think.???

So whats the delay if GCs see it all as the "RoC"?

[Kikapu]

"said Talat. “The Turkish Cypriot side prepared a very practical and rational proposal because Erenkoy is TRNC territory and we are talking about free crossings from TRNC territory to TRNC territory."

Really.???

The UN and the EU have different version, because they state that all of Cypriot territory is part of the Republic of Cyprus.!

Perhaps the UN and the EU is wrong and Talat is correct.!!

What do you think.???

So whats the delay if GCs see it all as the "RoC"?

As I said to you before VP, that the only thing that keeps the "trnc" afloat, is the 40,000 Turkish Troops, because it has no other foundations. Take the troops away, and the "trnc" won't last more than 5 minutes.!

If you are now going to thank and praise the Turkish Troops for keeping the "trnc" afloat, then you would have proven my point once again.!

I'm just answering your question as honestly as I can.!

The question is, can you handle some honesty.?

[Viewpoint]

"said Talat. “The Turkish Cypriot side prepared a very practical and rational proposal because Erenkoy is TRNC territory and we are talking about free crossings from TRNC territory to TRNC territory."

Really.???

The UN and the EU have different version, because they state that all of Cypriot territory is part of the Republic of Cyprus.!

Perhaps the UN and the EU is wrong and Talat is correct.!!

What do you think.???

So whats the delay if GCs see it all as the "RoC"?

As I said to you before VP, that the only thing that keeps the "trnc" afloat, is the 40,000 Turkish Troops, because it has no other foundations. Take the troops away, and the "trnc" won't last more than 5 minutes.!

If you are now going to thank and praise the Turkish Troops for keeping the "trnc" afloat, then you would have proven my point once again.!

I'm just answering your question as honestly as I can.!

The question is, can you handle some honesty.?

Whats your point as its the GCs who claim there are no borders so whats the problem with opening another crossing, 25 years of the TRNC and it looks like it will be around for a long time to come these delays and lack of progress are testiment to this fact.

[utu]

I'm curious: why WAS Kokkina/Erenkoy an exclave in the first place? I would have thought that during the second part of 'Attila', the Turkish Forces would have had no difficulty driving their offensive and connecting the exclave to the rest of the Turkish-controlled territory...

[Nikitas]

Utu,

Kokkina was not linked to the rest of the occuped area because not all developments during the invasion were the easy walkover some people like to portray. The resistance to the westward advance was fierce enough to cause the Turkish army to stop.

[DT.]

My cousin fought round there and he insists they were fighting with turkish regulars well after the cease fire. They were apprently led by a suicidal Greek officer who despised the Cypriots so muchn (especially any lefties) he kept sending their platoon on suicide missions.

[roseandchan]

i think it is a peacefull request from mr t.
the people from this area have miles to travel to use the crossing point.
he is showing goodwill at least!