LEFKOSA - A total of 16,518 passed to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday in accordance with the decision of TRNC Council of Ministers.
Police told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that 16,518 Greek Cypriot people passed to TRNC by 3527 vehicles and 8529 TRNC people passed to Greek Cypriot side till the midnight on Sunday.
Free passages between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side also continue Monday.
Gates were opened at 7.00 a.m. on Monday due to intensive demands of Greek Cypriot people.
Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Serdar Denktas for tourism said that Greek Cypriot people who returned from TRNC to the other side after the midnight would be punished with 50 million Turkish liras of fine.
Greek Cypriot administration is expected to allow TRNC citizens to pass to Greek Cypriot side by their cars in this week. Meanwhile, religious ceremony which was earlier announced to be held on Sunday in Apostopol Andreas Monastery in Dipkarpaz to where Greek Cypriot people went for Easter holiday was not held, since Greek Cypriot church warned Greek Cypriot people not to hold ceremony in regions under ''occupation.'' Greek Cypriot people only visited the monastery and prayed.
Officials said that a religious ceremony was held in another church in Dipkarpaz and stated that about 60 Greek Cypriot people attended the ceremony.
(EÖ-AÖ) 28.04.2003