Cyprus-Forum.com

[Niki]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

I haven't been to the North yet, there is an issue with my feeling that I would be dismissing my RoC friend's history. However I would love to see the North once a settlement has been reached. I hear it's beautiful.

Tim is there any problem with the fact you live in Cyprus when you visit Turkey? Are the Turkish people prejudiced?

[Tim Drayton]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

I haven't been to the North yet, there is an issue with my feeling that I would be dismissing my RoC friend's history. However I would love to see the North once a settlement has been reached. I hear it's beautiful.

Tim is there any problem with the fact you live in Cyprus when you visit Turkey? Are the Turkish people prejudiced?

Since I settled in Cyprus in 2004, I have only left the island twice, and neither journey has been to Turkey, so I don't really know. I would love to live in a region where all animosities between Greece, Turkey and the communities in Cyprus have come to an end, but I am not sure if I will ever see that.

[Niki]

every day 100's of EU citizans are passing without problem from the Lokmaci gate to South Cyprus from north .

They see south as well and return back without problem .

Last night i passed the boarder with my Slovanian friend and we spend few hours in ledra street and return back withouth problem .

first we came to TC's police control we filled up the visa forums than we walked directly to GC's controlled check point . He just passed directly by showing his passport .they only turned the pages and look through his face and he walked away . TC's have to wait for a while on the check point they have to check ID card from computer .
as a EU citizans he can pass quicker than me .

Niki , they will not have any problem .
Let the people enjoy they are trips and see the realties of the Cyprus with their own eyes . Let them the compare what is the real life in Cyprus .
People can learn lots of things by own expriencies not from the others what they are telling them .

Thanks Halil

Have the restrictions moving from North to South eased at all in the last year for you?

[Niki]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

I haven't been to the North yet, there is an issue with my feeling that I would be dismissing my RoC friend's history. However I would love to see the North once a settlement has been reached. I hear it's beautiful.

Tim is there any problem with the fact you live in Cyprus when you visit Turkey? Are the Turkish people prejudiced?

Since I settled in Cyprus in 2004, I have only left the island twice, and neither journey has been to Turkey, so I don't really know. I would love to live in a region where all animosities between Greece, Turkey and the communities in Cyprus have come to an end, but I am not sure if I will ever see that.

I do agree.

I loved visiting Turkey, such amazing history and warm people.

[Piratis]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

And which is this EU law you are talking about Tim? There is no such thing. Cyprus can start imposing penalties whenever it decides.

[Tim Drayton]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

And which is this EU law you are talking about Tim? There is no such thing. Cyprus can start imposing penalties whenever it decides.

This point was established in the court ruling which was referred to earlier in this thread, and the test case even involved a third-country national rather than an EU citizen.

[CBBB]

I was not condoning this practice, just trying to show that no one can be prosecuted for it.

[Oracle]

Should I encourage him to do this?

It sounds like he was concerned about doing this, so why would you encourage him to do something illegal and immoral?

Of course the horrific events of the past in Cyprus can't be denied and I do sympathise but things have to move forward.

Why should things "move forward" just to make things easier for you? Should we abandon our fight to regain our country because we have had sympathy now; but let's not be a nuisance any longer!

Opening up the island can only be good for the economy surely?

It is about doing the right thing (even if expensive) and the rest will follow...

P.S. I hope you appreciate my restrain on telling you what I really think about your dilemma!

.... and I hope all now see what we have to face from the second wave of "colonisation". Cricket test anyone

[DT.]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

And which is this EU law you are talking about Tim? There is no such thing. Cyprus can start imposing penalties whenever it decides.

This point was established in the court ruling which was referred to earlier in this thread, and the test case even involved a third-country national rather than an EU citizen.

Tim,

that ruling was from a Cypriot court and not an EU court. In addittion the ruling did not say that it was not an offence, simply that there is immunity (for now) on those that commit this offence. The EU noises you've been hearing have been from the EU Commission (specifically one commissioner). For an EU regulation to be passed it will need to go through he European Parliament.

The EU Commission is simply the civil service of the EU. The EP is the legislative and the European Council the executive.

[Tim Drayton]

What change will happen? The only thing that can change is for Cyprus to start penalizing those who commit such offenses.

The problem is that EU law takes precedence over national law, so despite being an offence on the RoC statute book, penalisation is impossible for as long as the RoC remains an EU member. Apparently you can now enter the RoC with TRNC stamps in your passport - the authorities cannot use this to deny entry to an EU citizen.

I always believe in following all local laws and customs to the letter when living in another country. As a permanent resident of the RoC I thus refuse to travel to Turkey via Tymbou/Ercan airport or Kyrenia port, although I look forward to being able to do so if there is a settlement. Apparently a large number of RoC citizens break this rule, but that is another story. Quite frankly if I was a British traveller in the region and the cheapest way of getting from Turkey to the government-controlled part of the island was via the north, that's how I would go.

And which is this EU law you are talking about Tim? There is no such thing. Cyprus can start imposing penalties whenever it decides.

This point was established in the court ruling which was referred to earlier in this thread, and the test case even involved a third-country national rather than an EU citizen.

Tim,

that ruling was from a Cypriot court and not an EU court. In addittion the ruling did not say that it was not an offence, simply that there is immunity (for now) on those that commit this offence. The EU noises you've been hearing have been from the EU Commission (specifically one commissioner). For an EU regulation to be passed it will need to go through he European Parliament.

The EU Commission is simply the civil service of the EU. The EP is the legislative and the European Council the executive.

I am not a lawyer, so I am not competent to comment any further. Surely there already exist EU provisions which have the force of law in all member countries concerning the free movement of EU citizens, and this is what comes into play here. This is my understanding as a layman.