President Akıncı: “We will determine the opening date of Aplıç and Derinya gates”

President Mustafa Akıncı stated that at the meeting he will have with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades on 26 October 2018 they will talk about the future of the island and also they will determine a date for the opening of Aplıç and Derinya gates in mid-November.

According to a statement made by the Presidency, Akıncı, touched upon the issues of the meeting with Anastasiades and opening of the gates in his speech at an event yesterday (21^st October).

Stating that the people of the region have had expectations for the opening of Apliç gate for many years, but the gate could not be opened for some reason.  Akıncı said that when he started his duty as President, a political decision was taken for the opening of Derinya and Aplıç gates and added that there were various difficulties to implement this decision.

Indicating that the problem at Aplıç gate was due more to the physical conditions of the region, Akıncı expressed that now all the problems for the opening of both gates seem to have been overcome. Akıncı noted that there are two basic items to be discussed at the meeting with the Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Anastasiades and that one of them is determining the day for the opening of the gates, and he continued: I believe that we will determine the opening date of Aplıç and Derinya gates with Anastasiades soon.

Stating that when he meets with Anastasiades, of course they will talk about the future of the island, President Akıncı said: “The whole world knows that we do not have the luxury to waste time anymore.”