in-cyprus 21 May 2020 -Bouli Hadjioannou
There will be a partial opening of some checkpoints to allow crossings for some groups of people as from June 8, Government spokesman Kyriakos Koushios said on Thursday.
He said President Nicos Anastasiades had, at his initiative, spoken with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci by telephone and conveyed to him the decision for the gradual lifting of restrictions on movement at the checkpoints.
There was an exchange of views and there was common understanding that at a first stage, and beginning from June 8, this be allowed at checkpoints where movement is by car for the following categories:
- Turkish Cypriots who work or study in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus or who undergo treatment at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, the Cyprus Institute for Neurology and Genetics and public and private hospitals of the Republic
- Enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronite who live permanently in the Turkish occupied areas
Turkish Cypriot pupils will be allowed to cross over at the Ledra Palace checkpoint from where they will be taken by bus to their schools.
Crossings will continue for humanitarian reasons, it added.
The Cyprus government will at regular intervals carry out random tests on individuals at the checkpoints, it added.
It was also agreed that the bicommunal technical committee on health will be convened the soonest possible to exchange views on the gradual opening of crossing points, depending on the epidemiological situation at the specific time.
