Opposition DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos has suggested examining the option of closing crossing points between the island’s divided communities as a way of inflicting “political cost” on Turkey.

The government said closing the crossings was not on the agenda.

Papadopoulos, who abandoned the government coalition in February over disagreements with President Nicos Anastasiades’ handling of the Cyprus problem, said shutting down the crossings should be explored in response to Turkey’s aggression over natural gas.

“We need measures that will have political cost on Turkey and the breakaway state,” he said during a Monday evening news show on private Sigma television.

Asked by the presenter if he meant closing the crossings, Papadopoulos said “it is one of the measures we should examine.”

“How can the Green Line Regulation operate while our EEZ is being violated?” he said.

“How can tourists and others use the Tympou airport without the imposition of an administrative cost,” he added without elaborating.

The crossing points along the buffer zone opened in 2003, while Papadopoulos’ father, Tassos, was in power.

The Green Line Regulation regulates the movement of goods and persons across the divide, in force since the Republic of Cyprus’ accession to the EU in 2004.

Anastasiades pulled out of reunification talks last week in response to Turkey’s announcement that it was reserving areas for seismic surveys south of the island and within Cyprus’ offshore blocks.

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu did something similar in 2012, suspending the talks when Cyprus assuming the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year.

Turkey issued a marine advisory reserving for seismic surveys off the island’s southern coast a large contiguous area encroaching into parts of offshore blocks 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9.

The swathe reserved by Turkey comes between the Cypriot coastline and the areas where Italian company ENI is and will be operating.

Turkish seismic surveys are set to begin on October 20.

In an interview with Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah that was published two days ago, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said the administration was working on a number of political, diplomatic and legal measures, but the closure of the crossings was not on the agenda.

“We would like to cooperate with Turkey, and we are also ready for it. My message to Turkey is: We can solve this problem. Let’s benefit from the beauty of the region. We have much to do,” he said.





