‘STOP PCR PREJUDICE IN SOUTH’

Taken from this week's issue
 

By ELTAN HALİL

The call was made by the “Direct Flights to North Cyprus” (DFNCyprus) group following numerous reports in recent days of UK and EU-bound passengers being told at Larnaca and Paphos airports that their negative PCR test results from the TRNC’s Health Ministry are not valid for flying – even though the same tests are acceptable when crossing from North to South.

The passengers affected have been told they must undergo another test at the airport at their own expense.

With Turkey still on England’s Covid “red list”, flying to the UK via Turkey from Ercan airport and having to pay thousands of pounds in quarantine fees is not an option for most.

The UK is also not accepting Covid vaccination cards issued in the TRNC for the purpose of quarantine-free travel for vaccinated people from “amber” countries – which is the current status of Cyprus – as reported by Cyprus Today last week.

“Turkish Cypriots and TRNC residents are actively being discriminated against by the UK government, the Republic of Cyprus, the EU as well as commercial airlines all because their Covid vaccinations were administered in the TRNC,” DFNCyprus said.

“Furthermore, PCR tests conducted in the TRNC are sporadically being rejected with no clear reason why.

“We are worried that these new ‘requirements’ will set a precedent for future issues and only increase the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.

“As a Turkish Cypriot organisation, we believe in the equal rights of all citizens of Cyprus and as a guarantor state within Cyprus the UK must ensure that there are no prejudices by supporting every citizen of Cyprus equally.

“We are concerned that in this new post-Covid era we are entering the Turkish Cypriot community and TRNC residents by association, through these decisive actions, will be exposed to even greater xenophobia. 

“As such, we are urging the UK government, the RoC government and the EU to take corrective action and to accept TRNC-issued PCR tests and vaccinations.

“Furthermore, airlines have begun issuing their own prerequisites alongside rules outlined by the RoC government which has further complicated matters for the Turkish Cypriot community.

“Conflicting rules and varying requirements have added unnecessary stress for passengers in an already stressful period due to the pandemic. 

“Therefore, we urge the involved governments to address our concerns as a matter of priority and ask that airlines using the airports of RoC – British Airways, Cyprus Airways, easyJet, Wizz air and Jet2 – follow suit.”

A spokeswoman for the British High Commission (BHC) in South Nicosia told this paper yesterday: “The British High Commission is aware of reports of this nature and is seeking clarification from the Republic of Cyprus. Our Travel Advice will reflect any official advice we receive.”

Asked if the BHC has any advice to British citizens in the TRNC who are planning to fly out of the island via Larnaca or Paphos airports, the spokeswoman added: “We advise all travellers with questions or concerns about pre-departure testing to seek advice directly from their airline well ahead of travel.”

On Wednesday People’s Party leader and former foreign minister Kudret Özersay met with Deputy British High Commissioner Ben Rawlings to raises the issues.

“The problems experienced by people who have had their vaccinations [in the TRNC], especially our young people studying in EU countries and the UK, when travelling and entering foreign countries without quarantine, were discussed with [Mr] Rawlings,” he said.

“Practical solutions should be put in place immediately so that our people do not suffer. This problem should be resolved.

“As the opposition, we will continue to do our part, convey our solution proposals to foreign counterparts and carry on following up on the issue.”

Cemal Özyiğit, leader of the Social Democracy Party, met with BHC second secretary Elizabeth Kumar at his part party headquarters, during which he requested that the BHC “take an initiative” to eliminate the problems.

President Ersin Tatar said that his special representative Ergün Olgun is “continuing negotiations on this issue on my behalf with the relevant parties” and said the issues should not be turned into a “political” matter.

“The Greek Cypriot Administration accepts our vaccine [cards] and PCR tests and we accept theirs,” he said. 

“There are crossings between the two sides, and yet in the EU context, [they] do not accept our vaccines and tests. . . We are currently trying to solve this issue with reason, logic and through dialogue. . . The Health Ministry is also following up on this. 

“Ultimately, this is a humanitarian issue. The Greek Cypriot side should approach this positively, they should not look down on my people or persecute them.

“It would not be right for them to turn this into a political issue and cause us unnecessary trouble.”

The TRNC’s London education and culture attaché Metin Harper said that some airlines are refusing to accept PCR test results from the TRNC.

“Just as each country has its own entry rules, airline companies also have their own rules,” he said.

“Some companies consider PCR tests in the North sufficient while others want PCR or antigen tests from the South. In this regard, there are laboratories in the South that can also do testing.

“It’s only necessary to find out from which side the airline company accepts a PCR test.

“Finding out and getting it done 72 hours in advance will provide the most comfortable flight.

“They can also get this information from us. My WhatsApp number is 0044 738 821 9411, anyone who wants to can contact me and get information.”

Meanwhile MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek, a member of the Greek Cypriot party Akel, has called on the Greek Cypriot government to create a “digital platform” for “Turkish Cypriots and other Cypriots abroad to enter their personal information and obtain a Digital Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate”.