The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that with the completion of the ongoing works at the buffer zone the Lokmaci Gate would be opened soon.

Responding to questions of the Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK), Ercakica said the contacts for opening the Lokmacý gate to crossings were continuing. Adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had completed its studies for the opening of the gate months ago, Ercakica said: “The crossing point will open as soon as the ongoing works to prepare the buffer zone accordingly, are completed.”

Asked to comment on the news appeared in the Greek Cypriot press that “the Lokmaci Gate would be opened within 15 days”, Ercakica said this could be the suggestion of the United Nations on the issue, and the Turkish Cypriot side did not have any such time-table.

Responding to another question on the Yesilirmak Gate, Ercakica said that this was not on the agenda of the Turkish side and the priority was the opening of the Lokmaci Gate to crossings.

Presidential Under-Secretary Rasit Pertev who went to New York, met with the UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe and conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on the Cyprus problem.

Responding to the questions of the Anatolian News Agency (AA) following the meeting, which took place at the UN headquarters, Rasit Pertev said: “The aim of his visit was to congratulate Pascoe for his new post and to discuss the Cyprus issue”, adding that the meeting was positive.

Reminding that the UN had spent so much effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem and finally in 2004 the Annan plan came on the scene, Pertev said the Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan had not submitted any new proposals to the UN Secretary-General for two years.

“Within this two years period, the Greek Cypriot side had broken of all kinds of contacts and relations with us”, Pertev added.

Reiterating that the Turkish Cypriot side had accepted that UN’s proposal in February for establishing technical committees, which would deal with daily issues, Pertev said: “No committees have been established and no progress have been achieved since then, because the Greek Cypriot side did not favour a process that would push a lasting solution.”