Five senior Greek Cypriot students from the Rizokarpaso high school, in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, crossed to the free areas of the Republic, to take part in the Pancyprian Exams that started on Tuesday.
Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou told CNA that all arrangements were made to facilitate four out of five students to pass to the free areas a few days ago. They have been subjected to the necessary COVID-19 tests and they are now staying with relatives, he added. One more student was already in the free areas, to take part in the exams.
Replying to a relevant question, Photiou said that his office is ready to facilitate all enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites who wish to cross to and from the free areas of the Republic, in the event the agreement of the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to facilitate the crossing of specific groups of citizens is observed.
“On the basis of the agreement between President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader we have made all preparations and did everything we had to do, so as to facilitate the crossing of our enclaved compatriots and those who resettled, from the free areas to our occupied villages, as well as from the enclaved villages to the free areas, starting from Monday, 8 July” Photiou said, pointing to the date the two leaders originally agreed upon in order to proceed with the gradual opening of crossing points.
He also said that they are dealing on a daily basis with humanitarian issues, mostly concerning enclaved Greek Cypriots and Maronites facing health issues. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Interior, all arrangements are made to subject them to the necessary tests for COVID-19, with the Republic of Cyprus bearing the cost, the Presidential Commissioner said. In this case, people confine themselves in their homes until test results are announced.
Photiou said finally that some cases fall not within the categories of people permitted to cross, on the basis of the understanding reached between President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader, and are handled as cases of humanitarian nature. He gave the example of a teacher, with origins from Rizokarpaso, who works in the free areas of the Republic. She was trapped in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus due to coronavirus-related developments and was brought to the free areas on Monday.