Undersecretary Köprülü “A control mechanism will be established on the stairway down to Taksim Pitch”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Kemal Köprülü stated that a control mechanism will be established on the stairs at both crossing points for the transit to the Çetinkaya Taksim Pitch.

Köprülü said that all necessary measures will be taken by security officers in order not to allow illegal irregular migration incidents.

Emphasizing that even though the field is in the buffer zone, the walls are within the territory of North Cyprus (TRNC), Köprülü said, “What we want is for our athletes to come down the stairs from Çetinkaya Sports Club and do their training.”

Speaking to the Turkish News Agency (TAK), Köprülü said that they have been in contact with the United Nations (UN) regarding the opening of the Çetinkaya Taksim Field, and reminded that the preliminary opening was held within the last week. Köprülü stated that the Çetinkaya Taksim field will be fully opened to youth and country sports once the work on the field is completed in the coming days.

“The walls are in the TRNC territory, not in the buffer zone”

Köprülü said that the poles and nails had damaged the walls due to the barriers that had been put up and said that he disapproved of this action.

“Of course, the walls are on TRNC territory not in the buffer zone, and we know that the pitch is in the buffer zone but the walls are on our side,” Köprülü said.

Expressing that the ministry's efforts continue in order to remove the barbed wire following the removal of the barriers, Köprülü said that they conveyed the issue to officials from the UN Peacekeeping Forces at the ministry today. Stating that high-level contacts will be held on the subject in the days ahead, Kemal Köprülü said, "All we want is for our athletes to be able to enter the field by using the Çetinkaya Sports Club stairs and do their training."

- “A control mechanism will be established at the stairs”

Emphasizing that the crossings to the Taksim Pitch from both sides will be carried out in a controlled manner, Köprülü said that they had an idea of having an officer to control the crossings for the entry to the field.

Expressing that a control mechanism will be established on the stairs at both sides of crossing points on the field, Köprülü emphasized that all necessary measures will be taken by security guards in order to prevent illegal migration incidents.