Greek Cypriot staff at Metahan today!

[Panchocat]

Seriously wish these guys had people skills.
Passports snatched from me this morning and had, "Park there!" Snapped at me. "Why?" I asked. "Do it!" Shouted back at me. Charm and personality? I don't think so.
Walked back to where the passports were being scanned into a computer and was hit by a car coming too close to the window. When I said, "You just hit me." the Cypriot driver said "Don't worry." I said "I do worry that's my leg!"
Then I was Shouted at by the people in the office to move. Said "No I will wait for my passports thank you." Then had them thrown back at me. I smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, have a nice day now" much muttering in Greek followed!
Really is no reason for them to be so offensive, in my opinion. Politeness, after all, costs nothing.
The usual ladies are always so nice, Lord knows where this pair of Bulldogs came from. Clearly they are getting satisfaction from their jobs.

[silverfox1]

Question.....Why bother going to the South?
Answer........Don't bother
Moral..........Steer clear and you won't be upset.

[mrsgee]

Oh dear, sorry to hear of such a bad experience just trying to travel to another part of the island. But, well, says it all maybe.....its a shame because actually we don't just go for shopping, which is not such a saving anyway when you add on the petrol cost and insurance, but we do like occasionally to have a trip out to just see different parts of the island. Maybe they read they had read the article about Maras not actually belonging to the Greeks Cypriots at all.........there may be trouble ahead.........

[Panchocat]

Silverfox you can't always take that line, we do go to visit friends who live in the south and also pick up friends who choose to fly to Larnaca, who are we to say you must fly into Ercan?
Agree Mrs Gee a change is sometimes as good as a rest
Never have problems at Beyamurdu but then again they are on a sovereign base......
Just an unecessary lack of manners and communication as far as I am concerned, as for the TC driver that drove into me when I was already standing there, clearly an appalling lack of spatal awareness, not an uncommon trait I have found particularly among taxi drivers! Do I really need to see their eye colour in my rear view mirror?

[meldy]

I was over the day before and we had out passports scanned. Same rude demands for passports and to 'park there'. Other cars got through no bother, it wasn't everyone who was stopped. I agree they could be a bit more diplomatic. Someone higher up must be rattling cages. I enjoy a trip to the south now and then, whether it be for shopping for things I still cannot get here or to visit friends. We all have a right to go to any part of the island we want, after all I am an EU passport holder.

[johnny1]

i wouldnt worry too much about the greeks...they are well known for being arrogant,ignorant,selfish,traiters,liars...shall i continue?

[Deniz1]

I was once married to one johnny1 so I KNOW!

[Lovelife]

What a shame people have an unnecessary bad experience.

We came through at the beginning of the week, they were randomly asking cars to pull over and we were asked to pull over, the officer we dealt with was civil and polite. Our passports were taken and brought back within 5 minutes and we went on our way.

LL

[Panchocat]

Love life, agreed. The usual staff are always polite and chatty. Definitely a very aggressive, rude pair on yesterday and absolutely no need for their attitude. There was no language problem, they spoke English well, definitely no need to use imperative verbs to start their sentences! Maybe they thought they were still doing national service on the parade ground!

[TB10pilot]

I think if anyone suffers such bad behaviour from the Greek Cypriots, you should write a letter to the British High Commission. If they receive enough letters, they may do something!

[chiangbill]

You should try the Indian Embassy in Colombo Sri Lanka. If you want to see rude staff. They take the biscuit, and they do it all with a smile as well.

[tomsteel]

I seriously doubt the BHC would even acknowledge letters/emails, let alone approach the RoC authorities.

[TB10pilot]

Tomsteel, to some extent I agree with you, but pressure must be put upon them. (GCs). Even write to Brussels to inform them of their poor behaviour if necessary. If they are behaving badly, the world should be told! It should not be tolerated. They are throwing their toys out of their prams again, it must mean something? Things not going their way?

[waddo]

Now, Now, don't knock the BHC in the expectation that they would not even acknowledge letters/emails! I emailed them on the 30th of Jan 2015 about the removal of passports from my control and the treatment received, here is some of the reply that I received back on the 2nd of Feb 2015:

"Thank you for your email. I am unsure from your email whether you had a problem with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) police or the ‘north Cyprus police/immigration’. We are aware the RoC have introduced scanning of passports at crossing points for all non-Cypriot nationals and it is standard procedure for all passport/ID cards to be checked on entry/exit to ‘north Cyprus’. Both the processes are outside of our control or influence.

Unfortunately I cannot give you an explanation as to why you and your wife’s passports were taken and you will need to take this up with the relevant authorities. I would suggest a visit to the ‘north Cyprus police HQ’, possibly to speak with the head of the immigration section there, outlining your concerns. In writing to ‘north Cyprus Police’, write to Chief of Police, Pervin GULER, Okulu Sokak, Lefkosa. Tel 0392 2283411."

Sadly they completely misinterpreted what I had said in my email and so pointed me at the TRNC Police instead of the RoC police, who of course can do no wrong. However, I think the answer revolves around their statement above, in that "Both the processes are outside of our control or influence" or in other words this dog has no teeth and is also reluctant to bark!!!

Enough said.

[Shell232]

I can understand you being upset with rudeness but I am glad the Greeks are now doing their jobs properly and checking everyone entering and leaving the EU. I think sometimes we forget that the border crossings between North and South of the island are also border crossings between EU and non EU countries and therefore everyone should be checked properly.

[harita]

Is the problem .. North to South .. South to North or both ..

[mrsgee]

strange problem really though, when some, who deny the existence of the North, insist that there is no border.......hmmmmmmmm

[waddo]

Shell232, I would agree with you if that was a fact. However, the RoC people crossing into the North are not bothered with - I only refer to passport checks by the RoC police here. The RoC people returning from the North are also not bothered with. No TRNC citizen needs his/her passport to cross into the South, simply shows Kimlic card and crosses! Nobody checks at the Pila crossing point in any direction.

I would like to ask if all people who fly into Larnaca have their passports scanned upon arrival - now that would make sense but I suspect it is not the case? Further, having not crossed at Ledra for some time, is the same procedure in use there? Finally, I have crossed on more than one occasion since this process began but only been stopped and "scanned" once - why?

Either do the job properly or don't bother at all!!!! And, there are no borders between the RoC and the TRNC, simply agreed crossing points.

[woodspeckie]

We went and returned via Ledra on the 29th January passports stamped both ways very polite no problems, we went to Ledra Palace Hotel where we were met by a UN Soldier who took 4 of us to Wayne's Keep, then he took us on a trip to the old Nicosia airport to see the Cyprus Airways plane still there and the terminal buildings. A really pleasant morning trip from North to South.

[Gul1]

Seriously wish these guys had people skills.
Passports snatched from me this morning and had, "Park there!" Snapped at me. "Why?" I asked. "Do it!" Shouted back at me. Charm and personality? I don't think so.
Walked back to where the passports were being scanned into a computer and was hit by a car coming too close to the window. When I said, "You just hit me." the Cypriot driver said "Don't worry." I said "I do worry that's my leg!"
Then I was Shouted at by the people in the office to move. Said "No I will wait for my passports thank you." Then had them thrown back at me. I smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, have a nice day now" much muttering in Greek followed!
Really is no reason for them to be so offensive, in my opinion. Politeness, after all, costs nothing.
The usual ladies are always so nice, Lord knows where this pair of Bulldogs came from. Clearly they are getting satisfaction from their jobs.

It appears nothing has changed Panchocat. I experienced hostile behaviour from the Greek police when I tried to cross the border back in 2003 with my young family in support of peace during our 2 week holiday from the UK. We were refused entry even though we had British passports. The policeman at the check point snatched our passports out of our hands and snapped angryly, telling us that entry to the south was not for the British nationals coming from the north. I was unhappy about this treatment and did write to the late Rauf Denktaş who was the president at the time. He personally responded in writing, including sending some information about the historical events of the 'Cyprus Problem'.
So in my view any hostile treatment experienced whether by Greek /Turkish Police/ Security at the borders should be reported to those in government and not be tolerated.

[sophie]

You could always go the talk to be given by a representative of the BHC to the RBL on 23rd March, and voice your concerns. I suspect you will receive the same reaction as Waddo and his email. The BHC as far as I am concerned is useless and toothless and wouldn't so much as lift a little pinky to help anyone in the North. I'm always ready to be convinced I'm wrong though!!!

[woodspeckie]

I wrote to the British High Commision regarding our visit to Wayne's Keep they passed my e-mail to Nicosia and the Colour Sargeant arranged it for us.

[johnny1]

Deniz1 i am half one so i should know too...right?

[Maisiemoo]

I would complain to a British MEP if I had a bad experience at the border, not the BHC.

[BLUE BUTTERFLY]

Waddo.mes18.

Turkish Cypriots cannot cross to the south with their TRNC kimlik. They must have a greek cypriot kimlik issued in the south.

I have a trnc kimlik through marriage but have to use my uk passport to enter the south.

[Deniz1]

I know loads of TRNC folk who cross using their TRNC kimlik card. Hows that then?

[Deniz1]

Johnny1

[karmels]

BLUE BUTTERFLY.
You are completly wrong on that count.
Turkish Cypriots CAN cross to the South with their Kimlik cards but you have to be Cypriot with Cypriot parents or married to a Cypriot.
I hold a Kimlik card, I can leave the North with it but must use my UK passport to enter the South, I can leave the Island with it and enter Turkey no problem.

[TB10pilot]

Message 24 raises an interesting thoughts. Cyprus has, I believe, 6 MEPs representing the whole island of Cyprus. Just guess where they are all from? As there are none representing the northern side, perhaps the total number should be reduced? When you write to a British MEP, please mention this point. Dan Hannan MEP took note of this during his recent visit to the island.

[jen]

No problems this morning , Metehan very quiet , girl in Greek kiosk glanced at our UK passports and waved us through with a smile, must be the trolls weekend off . Nice when it's like this , but where's the consistency ?

[TB10pilot]

OR they are reading the Kibkom site!

[kiwikid]

Deniz not any more, crossed at Ledra Street on Friday, I can never use my TRNC kimlik card only my NZ passport but my TC friend tried to use hers on the way back across, the policeman there started yelling at us and two other TC that there ID cards were Fake and issued from a occupying illegal regime! The other policeman started up then, saying unless you had a ROC ID card you could not cross. it was all very embarrassing as there were about 50 tourists queuing to have there passports scanned!
They were also stopping anyone who had shopping bags crossing north to south, including two young GC girls who were stop and their adidas track pants were waved in front of the crowd as the custom office screamed out FAKE FAKE before fining both of them!!
It was a very tense atmosphere that I have to say has put me off crossing over anymore.

[Deniz1]

Crikey. I havnt been over for a very long time and that has put me off for good.