Athienou has been left disappointed after Monday’s meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides, the Turkish Cypriot leader and UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin failed to produce agreement on opening the Pyroi crossing, the town’s mayor said.
The crossing would cut the distance between Athienou and Nicosia to a third, Mayor Kyriakos Kareklas said. Via Pyroi, the trip to Aglantzia would take just ten minutes, benefiting students from the area and people who work in Nicosia. Athienou has been seeking the opening of the crossing for many years.
Kareklas told philenews the town was saddened, but took comfort that the issue remained alive and would be discussed again, both between the leaders and at the trilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General.
He said the town had expected the crossing to open on Monday. A television crew had been waiting outside his office for the announcements, because “everyone thought the opening of the Pyroi crossing was certain,” he said.
Kareklas said the town had asked for a briefing through the Greek Cypriot negotiator.
He added that he remained optimistic, saw the glass as half full rather than half empty, and hoped the opening of the crossing would be announced despite the town’s current disappointment.
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