For the first time in 45 years, two ambulances have crossed to and from Cyprus’ northern Turkish-occupied areas, in a pilot scheme, ahead of the anticipated opening of a crossing point at Limnitis village, on the northwestern coast of the island.
Limnitis crossing point, in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, opened on Thursday for the first time after 45 years, for a trial drive of an ambulance from Kato Pyrgos medical centre, staffed with a driver and a nurse. The journey, made for the first time since 1964, began at Kato Pyrgos, west of Limnitis, and ended at Nicosia General Hospital, through Limnitis, Xeros Potamos and Morphou.
The purpose of the trial drive was to measure the distance between Kato Pyrgos village and Nicosia and to find out whether the road – constructed before 1960 – can be used temporarily by ambulances and fire engines.
According to an agreement on the opening of Limnitis crossing point reached between President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the road will be improved and widened.
In a parallel move, on Thursday, a Red Crescent ambulance passed through Limnitis from the northern occupied areas to the southern government controlled part of the country and drove towards Kokkina area, further west of Kato Pyrgos. A second ambulance of the Red Crescent traveled through Limnitis towards Kokkina and returned to the occupied northern areas shortly before one o’clock.
“Health knows no borders”, stated Spyros Georgiou, Director of Polis Chrysochou Hospital, which is the nearest hospital to Limnitis crossing point.
“Today is an historic day”, pointed out Kato Pyrgos community leader Costas Michaelides and President of the committee for the opening of the Limnitis crossing point Andreas Caros.
Both of them said that they would ask that people and private vehicles are also allowed free passage via the same road, before improvement works are completed, pointing out that since ambulances can pass through the existing road, private vehicles can do the same.
The opening of Limnitis will facilitate movement between the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas and the southern government controlled part of the country.
For the past 45 years, Greek Cypriot residents in the area of Limnitis, on the northwest, have to travel to Paphos, on the western coast, and Limassol, on the south, in order to reach the capital Nicosia. Opening a crossing point at Limnitis would make this journey far shorter.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Direct negotiations between Christofias and Talat, which began in September 2008, are continuing and the two leaders have just completed the first round of talks. The second round begins in early September.
