In a written statement issued yesterday (2 August), the Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry for Foreign Affairs warned the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) about the demonstration Greek Cypriots plan to carry out on 11 August from the Gazimagusa Akyar border gate to the closed area of Varosha and called upon the Greek Cypriot side to avoid such demonstrations, which it said would serve no other purpose than creating tension.

The full text of the statement is as follows;

“According to the news published in the various organs of the local media based on reliable sources, it is being reported that around a thousand militants are going to cross over the Akyar gate in Famagusta area to hold a marching demonstration in the closed part of Varosha organised by various Greek associations and that the President of the Greek Cypriot administration Mr.Tassos Papadopulos is trying to give the impression that the attempted act is beyond his knowledge despite he is informed about the demonstration initiative.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force has been warned by our Ministry concerning the dangers and negative consequences that could arise in the event of such a demonstration. We would like to remind that it is the responsibility of UNFICYP to prevent such demonstrations and that UNFICYP would also be held responsible for possible incidents alongwith the Greek Cypriot administration.

It is clear that the border demonstrations in the past organised and inspired by the Greek Cypriot administration had only served to disrupt the attempts of creating an atmosphere of confidence and the demonstration currently being planned aims to disturb the prevailing peace on the island and creating a new agenda that could alter the sympathy felt for the Turkish Cypriots after the referandum.