FOREIGN MINISTER AVCI: “LILLIKAS IS TRYING TO PREVENT THE OPENING OF LOKMACI GATE WITH NEW EXCUSES”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs responded to Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Lillikas’ allegations to the effect that the missing factor on the way to open the Lokmacı border gate was the “Turkish goodwill and willingness”.

Following is the written statement issued on 15 January by Foreign Minister Turgay Avcı:

“The Turkish Cypriot side has demonstrated its determination and goodwill regarding the opening of the Lokmacı border gate for reciprocal crossings to all the relevant circles through its concrete steps taken in this direction. The dismantling of the footbridge at the Lokmacı region is the latest proof in this regard. In light of these facts, irrationality of the allegations of the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Lillikas that the “Turkish goodwill and willingness” was the missing factor on the way to open the Lokmacı border gate is evident. At the current juncture, it is the Greek Cypriot side, which needs to demonstrate its goodwill through its actions. 

It is amply clear that the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Lillikas and other Greek Cypriot authorities are trying to prevent the opening of the Lokmacı border gate by fabricating new excuses and concealing their unconstructive stance by creating an artificial agenda.  

It should be noted that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has taken all the necessary steps for the improvement of relations between the two peoples. However, the Greek Cypriot side is frustrating the relations with its insincere and provocative statements. The Greek Cypriot side should facilitate the opening of the Lokmacı border gate by demolishing the “wall of shame” in the Greek Cypriot side without further delay. 

ERÇAKICA: “THERE IS NO PLAN CONVEYED TO THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE BY THE UN REGARDING THE OPENING OF LOKMACI GATE” 

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Erçakıca has contradicted the allegations by the Greek Cypriot authorities that intensive contacts are being carried out with the United Nations (UN) authorities concerning the opening of the Lokmacı Gate.  

At the weekly press conference held by the Presidential Spokesman Mr. Erçakıca yesterday (16 January), it has been stressed that there is no view or plan conveyed to the Turkish Cypriot side by the UN. 

Reminding that UNFICYP Senior Adviser Mr. Wlodek Cibor paid a visit to Presidential Undersecretary Mr. Raşit Pertev on 10 January 2007 Spokesman Erçakıca said, “There was an exchange of views concerning the Lokmacı Gate. This visit has been announced to the public as ‘a consultation has been started by the UN officials’. There is no any other initiative or plan on the table.” 

Indicating that there is no need for detailed initiatives or planning activities for the opening of the Lokmacı Gate Spokesman Erçakıca said, “The only thing that should be done for the opening of the Lokmacı Gate is to pull down the wall of shame in the Greek Cypriot side.” 

Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Erçakıca stated that they consider the meaningless and unfounded allegations of the Greek Cypriot side such as security or border violations as pretexts made up to avert the opening of the Lokmacı Gate. 

Underlining that the said area is as secure as the other crossing points Spokesman Erçakıca said, “Our military presence in the area is not an element threatening security but it is an element of security itself. It should not be forgotten that Greek Cypriots and the third country nationals, crossing over to the North from South Cyprus, are under the protection of the security forces in the North and none of them have experienced any serious security problems until now. 

TRNC’S NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE GOKERI: “TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE HAS NO INTENTION TO TRANSFORM PART OF APOSTOLOS ANDREAS MONASTERY INTO A HOTEL” 

TRNC’s New York Representative Kemal Gökeri in a letter sent to the UN Secretary General, which was also published as a UN document, responded to Greek Cypriot administration’s New York Representative Andreas Mavroyiannis, who in a letter sent to the UN Secretary-General alleged that; “the annexes of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery would be transformed into a 120-room hotel” by the Turkish Cypriot side.  

Gökeri stressed in his letter that ‘the cultural heritage of Cyprus, whether in the North or the South should be protected and preserved as the common heritage of humanity regardless of its origin’. 

Stating that the ‘Department of Antiquities and Museums of the TRNC was the solely responsible for the restoration of the historical buildings, Kemal Gökeri noted that: 

“I would like to stress, in this context, that the Turkish Cypriot side harbors no intention whatsoever to convert the annexes of the said sacred premises into a hotel, nor does it have any plan for construction on those premises affecting their historical and religious status.” 

Gökeri underlined that; ‘at a time when both sides must attach great importance to the avoidance of any blame games, such attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to defame the Turkish Cypriot side through misinformation would serve no purpose but to further deepen the mistrust between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot people’. He added that the Department of Antiquities and Museums would continue to cooperate in a constructive manner in dealing with the technical aspects of the restoration of the antiquities and preservation of cultural heritage. 

Gökeri stressed that ‘the Turkish Cypriot side has always considered the Monastery as one of the most significant cultural sites in the island and has taken the utmost care to protect and preserve it’. 

AUTONOMOUS MISSING PERSONS COMMITTEE HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING OF 2007
REMAINS BELONGING TO TURKISH CYPRIOT MISSING PERSONS FOUND IN PETROFAN

The Autonomous Missing Persons Committee yesterday (16 January) carried out its first meeting of this year. Committee’s Turkish Cypriot Member Gülden Plümer Küçük stated that they had determined schedule for exhumations to be carried out in the forthcoming days during yesterday’s meeting.

Speaking to Cyprus Turkish News Agency (TAK), Küçük pointed out that the exhumation teams had found the bones of one of the two missing Turkish Cypriots, whom they were searching, during investigations at Petrofan.

Küçük stated that within the framework of the exhumations schedule the search for the remains of two missing Greek Cypriots would be placed in priority at a site in Girne today, since the area would be opened for construction and added that the remains of 5 other Turkish Cypriots were to be exhumed in Baf next week.