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ACTION SCS-03
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 SCA-01 PPT-01 H-02 L-03 /023 W
--------------------- 021374
R 071315Z MAY 76
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
AMCONSUL ADANA
AMCONSUL IZMIR
INFO SECSTATE WASHDC 3537
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NICOSIA 1249
E. O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, PFOR, CY
SUBJECT: TRAVEL TO CYPRUS
REF: (A) ANKARA 3396 (NOTAL), (B) ISTANBUL 1548 (NOTAL)
1. REGARDING QUESTION RAISED BY AMCON ISTANBUL (REF B)
ABOUT POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS TO AMCITS OBTAINING "VISAS"
ISSUED BY THE SO-CALLED "TURKISH FEDERATED STATE OF
CYPRUS" (TFSC), AS FAR AS EMBASSY AWARE THERE ARE
PRESENTLY NO USG RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL BY CITIZENS
TO TURKISH CONTROLLED AREA OF CYPRUS. HOWEVER, ALL PROS-
PECTIVE VISITORS TO CYPRUS SHOULD FULLY APPRECIATE RESTRICTIONS
IMPOSED BY GOC AND BY TURKISH CYPRIOT AUTHORITIES WHICH
EFFECTIVELY CURTAIL MOVEMENT ACROSS CEASEFIRE LINE BETWEEN
THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS.
2. BY GOC LAW, VISITORS TO CYPRUS MUST ARRIVE AND DEPART
VIA INTERNATIONAL PORTS IN GOC AREA, I.E., LARNACA
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND LARNACA, LIMASSOL, AND PAPHOS
SEAPORTS. PERSONS WHO ARRIVE VIA TURKISH-CONTROLLED
PORTS MAY NOT REPEAT NOT CROSS CEASEFIRE LINE IN
NICOSIA INTO GOC AREA. TURKISH CYPRIOT AUTHORITIES
SIMILARLY REQUIRE VISITORS TO ENTER AND EXIT AT TURKISH-
CONTROLLED PORTS. THESE ARE ERCAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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AND FAMAGUSTA, KYRENIA, AND KARAVOSTASSI SEAPORTS. TURKISH
CYPRIOT AUTHORITIES DO NOT REPEAT NOT ALLOW PERSONS WHO
ARRIVE IN CYPRUS AT GOC PORTS TO CROSS CEASEFIRE LINE
INTO TFSC AREA.
3. DESPITE STATED RESTRICTION, TURKISH CYPRIOT AUTHORITIES
HAVE RECENTLY INDICATED THAT PERSONS (OTHER THAN THOSE OF GREEK
OR GREEK CYPRIOT ETHNIC BACKGROUND) MAY APPLY TO CROSS CEASEFIRE
LINE FROM GOC AREA IF THEY WON PROPERTY OR HAVE LEGITIMATE
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN TFSC AREA. APPLICATIONS MUST BE
SUBMITTED 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE, AND DECISIONS ARE TAKEN
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. N.B. TOURISM IS NOT CONSIDERED
A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS INTEREST.
4. AMCITS WHO INTEND TO ENTER CYPRUS VIA TURKISH-CONTROLLED
PORT SHOULD BE STRONGLY CAUTIONED THAT THEY WILL EXPERIENCE
GREAT DIFFICULTY CONTACTING EMBASSY. EMBASSY IS LOCATED
IN GOC SECTOR OF NICOSIA. FEW TURKISH CYPRIOT TELEPHONES
CONNECT TO EXCHANGES IN GOC AREA. IF IN TURKISH CYPRIOT
SECTOR OF NICOSIA, AMCIT CAN SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM
LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO WILL REFER HIM TO TURKISH
CYPRIOT EMBASSY EMPLOYEE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH EMBASSY.
CRAWFORD
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