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EU hails new border crossing point in Cyprus

THE TWO leaders yesterday hailed the “significant step” taken in starting work on the stretch of road linking the Tylliria area in the northwest of the island to the capital, breaking 45 years of isolation.
In a special ceremony to mark the start of work on the road, President Demetris Christofias congratulated the local residents and their leaders for working to open the crossing point at Limnitis, which would dramatically reduce travel time for residents of the area trying to get to Nicosia.
He stressed that many efforts were made to reach this stage. “We overcame many difficulties and it is very wrong to take this away from anyone,” he said.
“As we say in the Cypriot dialect, one thing at a time. We move slowly to open the Limnitis crossing point and make life easier for the people of Pyrgos. As far as I am concerned, this is a service to the people,” he added.
The president hoped that soon there would be no need for a road block in the area following a solution of the Cyprus problem.
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said it was a “truly significant step and proof that with good cooperation important things can get done.”
He noted that the two sides reaching agreement on opening the crossing point after 45 years showed that they could also reach a comprehensive solution to the conflict, “which is the real source of all our problems”. He added: “As long as we have determination, persistence and honesty to reach our goal.”
UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer said “the two leaders showed great vision and determination on this project”. Every week, 30,000 people pass through the six crossing points on the island, he said, adding that the seventh opening at Limnitis would allow even more to cross.
UNFICYP Chief of Mission Taye-Brook Zerihoun said it was “further tangible evidence that when there is a will, even what seem to be the most intractable problems can be solved”.
On behalf of the bicommunal committee for the opening of the Kato Pyrgos-Liminitis crossing, Andreas Ioannou stressed that trust was necessary for people on the island to share their common future. “Finally hope has been resurrected. On both sides of the crossing, we have a common dream, to tear down the road block that divides us,” he said.
Kato Pyrgos mukhtar Costas Michaelides said the beginning of construction work on the road meant an end to 45 years of isolation for the community, noting that the start of work meant Christ’s resurrection came early this year. “We are at the start of the road, not the end. We hope no more problems will arise and by summer it will be ready,” he said.
Michaelides reminded officials of the importance of local residents being allowed to transport commercial products through the crossing point to reach the capital.
Christofias and Talat spent a large part of their direct negotiations from 2008 onwards trying to find a middle ground which would give access to the village communities in the northwest of the island to Nicosia via the occupied north. Opening a crossing point at Limnitis would cut travel time for residents of Kato Pyrgos wishing to get to Nicosia by almost two thirds, taking it down to around 75 minutes.
The push for the opening of Limnitis by local residents at one point threatened to derail the peace talks. Difficulties in reaching a deal were believed to be the result of obstacles put in place by the Turkish occupation army. However, yesterday saw the two leaders attend a joint ceremony to celebrate the start of works on the 6.7km stretch of road (including 2.2km in the buffer zone) which will be undertaken by a consortium of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot companies. The event was also attended by UN and EU officials as well as the US Ambassador to Nicosia.
Half of the cost of the €5 million project will be funded by the EU, while the tab for the remainder will be picked up by the Republic of Cyprus and the US.
Work to upgrade the road is expected to take around four months, and is due to be completed by the end of July.
(source: cyprus-mail)

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