The government has scrapped separate crossing lanes for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots at checkpoints after an MP raised concerns about equal treatment.
MP Alexandra Attalidou asked Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis whether the practice at crossing points was under review, noting it caused additional delays and raised concerns about equal treatment of citizens.
She said the separate lanes raised legitimate questions about compliance with Article 28 of the Cyprus Constitution, Article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
In his response, Hartsiotis said police checks at checkpoints are conducted according to the Green Line Regulation, which the European Commission assesses annually through on-site evaluations in Cyprus.
He said the separate lanes for Greek Cypriot and European citizens and Turkish Cypriots were used for a very short period, not for any discriminatory reason but solely for identification purposes so Interior Ministry officials could verify a person’s Cypriot origin.
The minister clarified that the practice no longer exists and there is now no separation in the flow of people at crossings.
The decision had sparked reaction among Turkish Cypriots, who believed the arrangement concealed ulterior motives on the part of the Republic of Cyprus.