The Bi-communal Peace Initiative – United Cyprus and 80 supporting organizations have called for urgent action to open new checkpoints across Cyprus, emphasizing the significant impact on thousands of people who cross daily for work, education, medical needs, trade, and social interaction.
In a joint press release, the initiative highlighted the severe delays at existing checkpoints, particularly the Ayios Dometios/Kermia checkpoint, where long-discussed measures need immediate implementation. It stressed that new crossings are essential not only to address these delays but also to ease traffic congestion, facilitate trade, and support cross-community interaction.
The initiative remined that several potential crossing pointshave been identified including Mia Milia/Haspolat, Athienou/Pyroi-Louroujina/Akıncılar, and Kokkina/Famagusta Gate in Nicosia. It emphasized that these crossings should accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and be accessible to everyone to maximize their benefits.
The group urged the two leaders to heed UN Security Council Resolutions and recommendations from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which advocate for measures that promote everyday contact and communication as vital steps toward peace and reunification.
Encouragement was drawn from the joint statement of 14 Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties under the Slovak Ambassador’s auspices, which also called for opening new checkpoints. These discussions included local authority representatives, further underlining the widespread consensus on the issue.
The initiative and supporting organizations pledged to continue their advocacy for new checkpoints, stressing that such openings must be prioritized based on community needs and infrastructure readiness, without preconditions.
While addressing immediate challenges, the group reaffirmed its ultimate goal: resolving the Cyprus Problem and achieving reunification through a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation based on political equality, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions. “This remains the only viable path to a peaceful future for the generations to come,” the statement concluded. (VOICE)
