Symbolic crossing opens in divided Cyprus

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed today to resume peace talks on reunifying the island, and to open a crossing in the heart of the divided capital.

Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met for the first time since Mr Christofias’ election last month renewed hopes that the island’s 34-year-long division could be resolved.

“This is a new era for the solution of the Cyprus problem,” Mr Talat said after the meeting, held inside the UN controlled buffer zone near the long-abandoned Nicosia airport.

Both sides agreed to open a crossing at Ledra Street, a busy pedestrian shopping area in the heart of Nicosia that runs across the capital’s dividing line. Ledra has come to symbolise the island’s division.

Cyprus was split into an internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a short-lived coup by groups who wanted to unite it with Greece.

Peace talks have been stalled since 2004, when Greek Cypriot voters rejected a UN settlement plan in a referendum. Turkish Cypriots had backed the plan.

“We shall try our utmost in order to come to an agreed solution for the interest of the Cypriot people, both communities, as soon as possible,” Mr Christofias said.

Both leaders will meet again in three months.

Meanwhile, each side will set up a group to begin working on the details of a future agreement to reunify the island.

Mr Christofias, who heads the Communist-rooted AKEL party, had pledged to meet Mr Talat within hours of winning presidential elections last month.

The two share left-wing roots and have friendly relations, but disagree on whether to base future negotiations on the last UN draft settlement.