Cypriot communities agree to reopen buffer zone crossings

The estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus agreed to reopen checkpoints controlling in the buffer zone, lifting COVID-19 restrictions on the movement of people and goods between the two parts of the divided island, the United Nations peacekeeping mission said on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

"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," said the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in a statement.

As of Friday, all crossing points that have been closed since December 2020 as a measure against the spreading of COVID-19 will reopen with the requirement of a 7-day negative antigen test or PCR test.

UNFICYP spokesman Aleem Siddique said the leaders of the two communities agreed to synchronize measures related to COVID-19 so as to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

He added that the epidemiological situation will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis, with an appropriate protection level categorized and applied at the crossing points.

The Cyprus island has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey intervened militarily following a coup by Athens-backed Greek Cypriots. The buffer zone in between is patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force.

Since 2003 several checkpoints were established in the buffer zone to enable people to cross over daily for work, to meet relatives and friends or just to visit their former houses in cities and villages.