The leaders of divided Cyprus met on Monday to discuss the opening of more checkpoints on the island as part of efforts to build trust.
Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met in the buffer zone, which has separated the Mediterranean island for decades.
The meeting was facilitated by UN Special Representative Colin Stewart. It followed an informal dinner organized by UN Secretary-General António Guterres with both leaders in New York on October 15. Christodoulides stated that he presented Tatar with a package of eight proposals.
“I mentioned the crossing points and other ideas we discussed in New York,” Christodoulides told reporters, adding that the proposals also included the establishment of a truth-finding commission.
“These ideas received a positive response from the Secretary-General, but there was no positive reaction from Mr. Tatar,” Christodoulides said.
The UN stated that both leaders agreed that opening new checkpoints could promote people-to-people contacts, strengthen economic ties, build trust, and create a more favorable climate for peace talks.
The Mediterranean island is divided between the European Union member Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey and occupies about a third of the island, including part of the capital, Nicosia. Turkey has maintained troops on the island since its 1974 invasion.
Currently, there are nine checkpoints along the “Green Line,” which divides both sides and is patrolled by the UN. Calls for increasing the number of checkpoints along the 180-kilometer buffer zone have been growing, aiming to facilitate access for people living in remote areas.
