Bidders Must Get Consent from Turkish-Cypriot Authorities - Özgürgün

Parties that are interested in bidding for the roadwork contracts for improving the roads to and from the Limnitis / Yeþilýrmak crossing point "cannot do any work within the TRNC borders if they ignore relevant Turkish Cypriot authorities," said Turkish-Cypriot foreign minister Hüzeyin Özgürgün.

His comments followed a tender launched by the United Nations Development Programme for road repairs in the buffer zone and northern Cyprus.

"Referring to the bid which state that the 4.5 km parts of the works will be implemented within the TRNC borders Özgürgün said it can be understood that beside the feasibility works, road repair works also will be made by the intermediation of the UNDP," said a Turkish-Cypriot statement.

The same rule must be followed whether the activities are "infrastructural aid and comfort or social, political or cultural activities," he said.

The leaders of both sides agreed to open the Limnitis crossing point in the next few months once roadworks have been completed to improve the roads. The UNDP is to oversee the works, with the possibility that companies from both sides will cooperate in the project.