Two crossing points to open in Cyprus

By Ahmet Salih Alacaci

LEFKOSA

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Greek Cypriot administration agreed on Friday to reopen two crossing points on their mutual border as of Nov. 12.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades announced in a joint statement that crossing gates near the towns of Derinya and Aplic would be opened.

The statement came after a meeting between the two leaders in which they confirmed that they would engage constructively with UN Special Envoy to Cyprus Jane Holl Lute who is to visit the island on Oct. 31.

The island has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the latest initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the UK collapsing in 2017.

Turkey blames Greek Cypriot intransigence for the talks' failure, also faulting the European Union for admitting Cyprus as a divided island into the union in 2004 after Greek Cypriot administration voters rejected a peace deal.