Cyprus Rivals Agree to Open New Crossings, Boosting Peace Talk Hopes

NICOSIA, CYPRUS: A UN Peacekeeper is seen closing a gate at the Ledara street crossing during a patrol of the buffer zone. [File: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/ Getty]

Leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have reached an agreement to open two new border crossings, enhance coordination for emergency responses, and facilitate the sharing of archival materials. This initiative is part of a United Nations-backed effort aimed at reviving peace talks on the divided island.

The Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, met jointly with the United Nations special envoy Maria Angela Holguin on Monday. The meeting took place in the UN-controlled buffer zone that separates the island.

This agreement marks the first tangible sign of de-escalation between the two rival communities after nearly a decade of stagnation. The UN described Monday's meeting as "positive" and announced that the leaders are scheduled to meet again in the coming weeks, with the outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in attendance.

"We are continuing this effort with absolute seriousness and one single goal: resuming the talks before the end of the secretary-general’s term," Christodoulides informed reporters following the meeting, referring to the end of the year.

Guterres initiated a new push to resolve the more than five-decade-old conflict in the summer, proposing that new crossings could foster trust and confidence. However, the two sides had been in disagreement over the ground rules for the talks.

According to media reports in Cyprus, this move will increase the number of open crossings on the divided Mediterranean island to 11. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkiye invaded and occupied the northern part in response to a coup orchestrated by the then-military government in Greece.

A previous power-sharing administration involving Greek and Turkish Cypriots dissolved in 1963. Since then, a UN Peacekeeping Force has been monitoring a 180km (112-mile) ceasefire line that divides the two communities. Only Turkiye recognizes the northern part of the island as an independent republic and maintains more than 35,000 troops there.

Decades of negotiations have repeatedly failed to achieve the reunification of Cyprus, with the last official round of talks collapsing in 2017. Greek Cypriots oppose any direct involvement from Ankara, while Turkish Cypriots consider it essential.

Last year, the northern part of the island elected its first pro-unification leader since 2020, sparking renewed hope for a resolution.