Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.05.14) reports that eleven years have passed since the opening of the crossing points in Cyprus and gives data regarding the number of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots crossing to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus and to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus respectively.
According to the paper, during the 11 years, 13 million 805 thousand 576 Turkish Cypriots crossed to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, whereas 7 million 895 thousands 442 Greek Cypriots crossed to the occupied area of Cyprus.
Also, according to the paper, in total 6 million 381 thousand 333 tourists crossed from the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus to the occupied area of Cyprus until March 2014.
The paper goes on and writes that 2012 was the record year as regard the crossing of the Turkish Cypriots to the “south”, since totally 1 million 398 thousand 866 Turkish Cypriots crossed to the Republic of Cyprus.
Also, the paper writes that in 2003 in total 1 million, 359 thousand, 816 Turkish Cypriots crossed to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, in 2004 1 million 754 thousand 875, in 2005 1 million 498 thousand 303, in 2006 907 thousand 905, in 2007 1 million 656 thousand 896, in 2008 1 million 810 thousand 176, in 2009 1 million 503 thousand 439, in 2010 1 million 600 thousand 45 and in 2011 1 million 443 thousand 472.
Meanwhile, according to the data, the number of Greek Cypriots who have entered to the occupation regime from 2003 until 2012 was lower compared with the number of the Turkish Cypriots. Particularly, in 2003, in total 642 thousand 992 Greek Cypriots crossed to the occupation regime, whereas in 2004 this number was 884 thousand 483. In 2005, the number increased to 939 thousand 811. Also, in 2006 the number of Greek Cypriots crossing to the occupation regime almost reduced to the half and reached to 356 thousand 919. In 2007 it was 575 thousand 569, in 2008 645 thousand 164, in 2009 635 thousand 788, in 2010 634 thousand 426, in 2011 694 thousand 633, in 2012 658 thousand 117 and in 2013 723 thousand 904.