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UPDATE 1-Cyprus checkpoints linking Greek and Turkish sides to reopen Friday - UN Reuters 1 hr ago
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NICOSIA, June 2 (Reuters) - Checkpoints linking the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides of Cyprus are to reopen on Friday, the United Nations said, marking the first time restrictions have been eased since December 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cyprus is split between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations, with a number of designated checkpoints controlling movements between the north and south of the island.
The sealed checkpoints up-ended the lives of thousands who would cross the island daily either for work, family commitments or just to meet friends. On some days, kilometer-long queues would form at vehicle crossings.
By Reuters Staff
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NICOSIA, June 2 (Reuters) - Checkpoints between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides of Cyprus are to reopen on Friday, the United Nations said, marking the first time restrictions have been eased since December 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cyprus is split between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations, with a number of designated checkpoints controlling movements between the north and south of the island.
“The reopening of all crossing points will facilitate free movement, promote people to people contacts, build trust and have an overall positive socio-economic impact across the island for the benefit of all Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” the United Nations mission on Cyprus, UNFICYP, said in a statement.
Four years after their last peace talks failed, rival Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders meet in Geneva next week to explore elusive “common ground” on the divided Mediterranean island.
“We go to Geneva… steadfastly committed to resuming negotiations for reunifying Cyprus in a bi-zonal bi-communal federation,” said Nikos Christodoulides, foreign minister of the Greek Cypriot-run Republic of Cyprus, an EU member.
That is in line with UN resolutions, international and EU law.
But his counterpart in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognised only by Ankara told AFP last month that “there is no common ground”.
“The issue is ‘one island, two states’,” Tahsin Ertugruloğlu said.