“Don’t Deepen Distrust Further,” Warns President Tatar on Crossing Point Confusion

“Our people should not be subjected to uncertainty by anyone,” Tatar said.

He emphasized that if any new measures, regulations, or temporary procedures are to be implemented, relevant parties must be informed in advance. “Crossing points are a bilateral matter, involving both sides. Any changes or operations require prior notification. Otherwise, unnecessary tensions arise, like those we saw today. No one can play games over the crossing points,” he warned.

Tatar also noted that such uncertainty only drives the two communities further apart and deepens distrust. Crossing points should serve to build confidence, not trigger crises.

Referring to discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding efforts to open new crossing points, Tatar stressed that actions creating obstacles or misunderstandings must be avoided. He added, “The goal should be to foster cooperation and a culture of collaboration. Events like today’s incident have the opposite effect. Greek Cypriot Leader Hristodulidis should be more sensitive on these matters and refrain from actions that could cause misunderstandings.”