Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

THE INTERIOR ministry was left red faced yesterday after it emerged someone in the ministry had allegedly told police to block ‘TRNC ID’ cardholders from crossing the Green Line to the south as of next month, but without telling the minister.

Instead, news of the new policy broke on Facebook after Greek Cypriot police told Turkish Cypriots crossing the Green Line last week that their cards would no longer be valid next month and that they could only cross with a Cyprus Republic ID or passport.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos confirmed the move yesterday, saying it was “a political decision”. However when asked, an Interior Ministry source said yesterday: “There is no such decision. The minister knows nothing about this. He has ordered an investigation into the matter."

The move has highlighted confusion within the government over what constitutes a valid ID, and it could pose problems for Turkish Cypriots, especially those who do not hold Republic of Cyprus passports or ID cards.

Yeniduzen Journalist Osman Kalfaoglu, who occasionally crosses with his ‘TRNC’ card without problem – as he did on Saturday night – said yesterday: “I don’t know what the reasons are for this. It might be to stop people from Turkey crossing with ID’s.”

Another Turkish Cypriot posting on Facebook said they had been given ‘30 days grace’ before having to use Cyprus Republic ID or passport.

Kalfaoglu said the news had divided people in the north, with nationalists calling on Turkish Cypriots to boycott the south, while left wingers were saying the policy should have been enforced all along.

The ministry’s confusion appeared to be echoed on the other side of the Green Line yesterday after Turkish Cypriot staff at the Ledra Street crossing reportedly began stamping tourists’ passports directly, instead of offering the usual paper slip.

Several European tourists had their passports automatically stamped by Turkish Cypriot authorities, although staff at the Ledra Street crossing yesterday denied it was a mandatory move.

“Two friends of ours who are staying with us arrived yesterday. My wife, who had a slip, went ahead of them in the queue but they (“TRNC” Green Line staff) didn’t offer a blank form” one expat told the Cyprus Mail. “I also heard second hand reports of tourists receiving stamps in their passports.”

Asked if there had been a change in policy by Turkish Cypriot authorities, ‘TRNC Immigration’ staff said travellers could optionally have their passports stamped, and that several did this because they like to remember the places they had been.

Asked if they were still issuing paper slips with entry and exit stamps, one said: “Of course. Everyone can get (a paper slip). It is not mandatory to stamp passports.”

Several European travellers at the crossing at Ledra Street told the Cyprus Mail that they had received the slips yesterday, while all of the tourists crossing to the north appeared to receive paper slips.

Katsounotos and Larnaca airport immigration police said they were not aware of any recent trend in travellers’ passports being stamped. There is no communication between Cypriot police and the authorities in the north.

Immigration police at Larnaca airport said yesterday that any EU nationals whose passports bore ‘TRNC’ stamps would be allowed to depart and arrive without any problems.

Asked about non EU nationals, police constable Nicos Philipou said: “We will not arrest them, but we will suggest to them not to use the occupied areas, and instead to use the official entry point (into Cyprus).”


http://www.cyprus-mail.com/green-line/c ... s/20111019

[halil]

THE INTERIOR ministry was left red faced yesterday after it emerged someone in the ministry had allegedly told police to block ‘TRNC ID’ cardholders from crossing the Green Line to the south as of next month, but without telling the minister.

Instead, news of the new policy broke on Facebook after Greek Cypriot police told Turkish Cypriots crossing the Green Line last week that their cards would no longer be valid next month and that they could only cross with a Cyprus Republic ID or passport.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos confirmed the move yesterday, saying it was “a political decision”. However when asked, an Interior Ministry source said yesterday: “There is no such decision. The minister knows nothing about this. He has ordered an investigation into the matter."

The move has highlighted confusion within the government over what constitutes a valid ID, and it could pose problems for Turkish Cypriots, especially those who do not hold Republic of Cyprus passports or ID cards.

Yeniduzen Journalist Osman Kalfaoglu, who occasionally crosses with his ‘TRNC’ card without problem – as he did on Saturday night – said yesterday: “I don’t know what the reasons are for this. It might be to stop people from Turkey crossing with ID’s.”

Another Turkish Cypriot posting on Facebook said they had been given ‘30 days grace’ before having to use Cyprus Republic ID or passport.

Kalfaoglu said the news had divided people in the north, with nationalists calling on Turkish Cypriots to boycott the south, while left wingers were saying the policy should have been enforced all along.

The ministry’s confusion appeared to be echoed on the other side of the Green Line yesterday after Turkish Cypriot staff at the Ledra Street crossing reportedly began stamping tourists’ passports directly, instead of offering the usual paper slip.

Several European tourists had their passports automatically stamped by Turkish Cypriot authorities, although staff at the Ledra Street crossing yesterday denied it was a mandatory move.

“Two friends of ours who are staying with us arrived yesterday. My wife, who had a slip, went ahead of them in the queue but they (“TRNC” Green Line staff) didn’t offer a blank form” one expat told the Cyprus Mail. “I also heard second hand reports of tourists receiving stamps in their passports.”

Asked if there had been a change in policy by Turkish Cypriot authorities, ‘TRNC Immigration’ staff said travellers could optionally have their passports stamped, and that several did this because they like to remember the places they had been.

Asked if they were still issuing paper slips with entry and exit stamps, one said: “Of course. Everyone can get (a paper slip). It is not mandatory to stamp passports.”

Several European travellers at the crossing at Ledra Street told the Cyprus Mail that they had received the slips yesterday, while all of the tourists crossing to the north appeared to receive paper slips.

Katsounotos and Larnaca airport immigration police said they were not aware of any recent trend in travellers’ passports being stamped. There is no communication between Cypriot police and the authorities in the north.

Immigration police at Larnaca airport said yesterday that any EU nationals whose passports bore ‘TRNC’ stamps would be allowed to depart and arrive without any problems.

Asked about non EU nationals, police constable Nicos Philipou said: “We will not arrest them, but we will suggest to them not to use the occupied areas, and instead to use the official entry point (into Cyprus).”


http://www.cyprus-mail.com/green-line/c ... s/20111019

Speaking to Bayrak Haber on the issue, the TRNC President’s Special Representative Kudret Özersay said that the Greek Cypriot police had reversed the ban following an initiative taken by the TRNC.

He said that he had immediately contacted his Greek Cypriot counterpart Yorgos Yakovu upon being informed of the developments, to receive an explanation into the matter.

Özersay said that Yakovu had confirmed that the reports were true and had announced later in the evening that the new practice had been cancelled.

“I believe that the President will convey to the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias his disturbance over the issue” he added.

The TRNC President’s Special Representative also criticized the Greek Cypriot Side’s actions, especially with only days left to the upcoming tripartite meeting in New York.

[bill cobbett]

Astonished to read that "id cards" photoshopped by the Illegal Regime have ever been accepted at the crossings.

Seems to be an open invitation to all manner of riff-raff to cross in to the Free Areas.

[B25]

The RoC politicians are spineless A**holes. They would shit themselves to impose such a decision that should have been implemented years ago.

We bring it upon ourselves, we deserve all we get.

[Pyrpolizer]

And I was wondering how come the settlers living in occupied Nicosia could speak Greek

Here's the reason, they cross everyday using "trnc" cards LOL

In the beggining the police at the crossings were supposed to accept "trnc" cards only if the carriers had additional evidence the are real Kibrislis, and only for 1-2 visits until they could obtain an Roc ID. It seems the 1-2 visits were extended to 2000

Let's digest it guys. We were always governed by INCOMPETENTS

[humanist]

I believe that should become an expectation. Until there is a solution

[Sotos]

They should stop accepting those fake ids asap! They should only accept them maybe once or twice for each person and only if the purpose of the visits is to issue proper RoC documents. Just recently it was reported that 100.000 TCs have RoC passports. That is almost all of them. Those that don't are the settlers and the ultra partitionists that should never be allowed in the free part of Cyprus!