DT. wrote:As far as Limnitis is concerned this doesn't matter. It was agreed along with the other crossings that Limnitis was to be opened. The army stepped in AFTER talat made the agreement and decided to add caveats.
1) Fuel transfer into the army camp
2) Electricity supply into the army camp
3) Free movement of non-tc (turkish mainland) individuals to and from the army camp.
This is so ridiculous its funny. Army invades, army kicks out inhabitants from their homes, army occupies their homes......army want fuel and electricity from said inhabitants....
Unbelievable isnt it? I stated something similar in another thread. Kind of makes you think that if the TCs are making such outrageous demands on a simple checkpoint ... how are we going to agree on real issues like Guarantor rights and property issues? Its a checkpoint for goodness sake. We were told back in 2008 that it would be open, whats the problem?
http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy/default. ... geID=304_2
By Charlie Charalambous
UN-sponsored peace talks stumbled yesterday after rival Cypriot leaders were unable to agree on the opening of a new crossing point at Limnitis.
President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, met for a 29th time where agreement on a Limnitis crossing topped the agenda.
Christofias accused an ‘insatiable’ Talat of placing unacceptable demands and preconditions on the Greek Cypriot side such as allowing fuel to pass through its territory to a Turkish military outpost at Kokkina.
“I must say I return disappointed,” Christofias told reporters after the meeting.
“Mr Talat insists on his terms of letting fuel pass through but each time he imposes new conditions, which, certainly cannot be accepted.”
He said the whole issue had been “blown up in the air” at a time when both Greek and Turkish Cypriot residents back a crossing in the area.
“I don’t think the Turkish army wants to open Limnitis. I expected different behaviour from Talat… it seems it’s not dependent on him.”
Christofias said that after “exhaustive” discussions proved fruitless there was no reason for a joint meeting with local inhabitants.
Cut off residents in the remote northwest region of the Tillyrias are demanding a crossing be opened at Limnitis that would reduce journey times to the capital by more than half.
Local residents threaten to block off other crossing points if there demand is not met.
A resident’s delegation crossed north yesterday to discuss the matter with Talat who blamed the Greek Cypriots for imposing restrictions.
“The Turkish Cypriots are not against the opening…we desire free movement.”
In March 2008 both leaders pledged to open a Limnitis crossing as a much needed confidence booster to help the climate of the talks and the current stalemate indicates how far they are from brokering a Cyprus settlement.
Currently there are six crossings bridging the divide to help facilitate the unprecedented movement of people and goods.
Additional crossings are encouraged by the United Nations to help break down the barriers of mistrust.
Peace negotiations were launched last September that were heralded by the international community as the best chance for peace.
In a report to the Security Council on Cyprus’s peacekeeping mandate, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was “disappointed” over the lack of political will to push ahead with confidence building measures.
“Other confidence-building measures, such as the creation of crossings, including Limnitis, would greatly contribute to an improvement in the atmosphere on the island,” said Ban
“I call upon the parties to implement these measures without further delay.”
The UN leader has urged both leaders to pick up the momentum and show a spirit of compromise.
“I see a need for an increase in the pace of the talks.”
Reunification talks will resume next Thursday.
