Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcý evaluated the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Lillikas’ statement that they would “open 8 crossing points”.

Speaking during a visit paid to him yesterday (13 March), Foreign Minister Avcý stated that the priority should be the opening of the Lokmaci border gate, which has been on the agenda for a long time before considering the opening of other crossings.

Reiterating the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness to open the Lokmacý border gate, the Foreign Minister said that ‘preconditions’ put forward by the Greek Cypriot side did not reflect a stance of good will.

Avcý stressed that they had the responsibility help the Turkish Cypriots to open to the world and systematically and determinedly continued to follow their path with good intention.

Making an assessment of the recent developments concerning the Lokmacý Barricade and the 8 July process, Presidential Spokesman Mr. Hasan Ercakica stated that these initiatives by the Greek Cypriot side are nothing more than tactics to build a positive image.

At the weekly press conference the Presidential Spokesman Mr. Ercakica has pointed out to the statements of the Greek Cypriot authorities in which they stated that the demolishing of the wall in the south of the Lokmacý Barricade does not mean the crossing point will be opened.

Underlining that the demolishing of the wall is significant to the extent that it serves to the opening of new crossing points, Spokesman Mr. Ercakica said “The Turkish Cypriot side does not want the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot market places to be separated by fiber or plastic screens instead of walls. The purpose of the works carried out until today was not to replace the walls with screens”.

Evaluating the excuse, which the Greek Cypriot side defined as “an issue of security”, aimed at obstructing the opening of the Lokmacý Gate Spokesman Ercakica said that they are “meaningless and ridiculous”.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot side is carrying out the works to finalize the efforts which, as a result of invaluable efforts, have reached to the final stage of opening the gate to the service of both peoples, Spokesman Ercakica said that it will be enough to follow the same procedure applied while the other crossing points were opened.

Stressing that some developments concerning the implementation of the 8 July agreement were leaked to the press by the Greek Cypriot side Spokesman Ercakica said that this was an effort to build a positive image.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot side is in favor of immediate formation of the working groups and the technical committees and also the commencement of comprehensive settlement negotiations, Spokesman Ercakica said “Provided that the Greek Cypriot side comes closer to this point, it is clear that that there will be improvements in overcoming the problems”.