Kato Pyrgos mukhtar Nikos Kleanthous on Monday warned that Tillyria residents would “react strongly” if priority is not given to the opening of a crossing point at the Kokkina exclave.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, he said the opening of a crossing point at Kokkina must become the Greek Cypriot side’s “highest priority” and that it must be an “inviolable condition” for the opening of any other crossing point on the island.
“The entire area here has been trapped for 60 years and cut off from the rest of the crossing point since the checkpoint at Kokkina was closed,” he said.
He added that the people of Tillyria “will not accept the opening of any new crossing point if the Kokkina crossing point is not included.”
He went on to note that Kato Pyrgos and the surrounding villages have been “isolated since 1964” when Turkish Cypriot forces successfully held on to the village of Kokkina during a Greek Cypriot siege in what has become known as the “Battle of Tillyria”.
Additionally, he said that the opening of a crossing point at Kokkina will “greatly facilitate the residents of Polis Chrysochous, who will no longer need to take three hours to get to Nicosia.”
With the aim of bringing his goal to fruition, he said he was in consultation with the bicommunal technical committee on crossing points, and expressed his belief that the opening of a crossing point at Kokkina would have “great benefits for Turkish Cypriots as well”.
He also said he will in the coming days meet with Turkish Cypriots living near the area, and that he is in “constant contact” with Polis Chrysochous mayor Yiotis Papachristofi on the matter.
The idea of a crossing point at Kokkina was most recently mentioned last year, with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar saying he had pushed for the opening of a crossing point in Mia Milia, just east of Nicosia, in June last year, but that his proposal had met a stumbling block when the Greek Cypriot side suggested the opening of a crossing point in Kokkina.
He had at the time poured cold water on the idea of a crossing point in Kokkina, saying that it is not possible to open a crossing point there as it is a “sacred area” and functions as a military base.
Tatar on Monday met Turkish Cypriot Nicosia mayor Mehmet Harmanci to discuss the matter of the potential opening of crossing points after Harmanci had said last week that Nicosia is being “held captive” by demands for crossing points in other parts of the island as preconditions for new openings in the capital.
Tatar told Harmanci preparations are ongoing for a crossing point to be opened at Mia Milia, with plans afoot for the crossing point to be opened for commercial vehicles and taxis.
He also pointed out that of the nine crossing points currently open in Cyprus, Nicosia’s sole crossing point for cars, Ayios Dhometios, is the most congested.
“Mia Milia may be a preferred point due to its proximity to Larnaca and its distance to other areas. For this to happen, the other side has a certain expectation of us. We are ready to discuss that expectation as well. There are certain crossing points on the agenda,” he said.
