South Cyprus has made strong representations to the UN with regard to references to “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” and “Turkish Cypriot police” included in a document regarding the operational order of UN Police in Cyprus concerning the visit of Turkish Cypriot pilgrims to Kokkina (Erenkoy) area on 8th August, ‘Famagusta Gazette’ reports.
The document dated 31st July 2014, described as UN protected, was sent by e-mail to the media and Greek Cypriot daily ‘Haravgi’ published a story about its content on Wednesday.
Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides told CNA that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “made today strong representations to UNFICYP” Senior Advisor Lynn Hastings.
The spokesman said that the UN apologised, and said the references were made due to a mistake and described the whole issue as “unfortunate”.
Christodoulides noted that this was an “unacceptable mistake”.
The seven-page document has the title “UNPOL- Sector One – Operational Order – Pilgrimage to Kokkina Area”.
Kokkina (Erenkoy), a coastal village in northeast Cyprus, was the centre of inter-communal clashes in 1964, when the Turkish air force bombed Greek Cypriot villages in the area. The village is accessible only through the “government-controlled areas of the Republic” or by sea, the newspaper says.
