Nicosia:The Greek Cypriot leader, President Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman, have reached an agreement to open two new crossing points and convene another trilateral meeting. This decision follows a meeting with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, held on Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the agreement includes the simultaneous opening of the crossing points at Louroujina-Lympia and Kampos-Karavostasi. The leaders have also decided to resume the Imagine Project and advance environmental initiatives. Additionally, they agreed to establish a mechanism for rapid response to emergencies.
The leaders consented to share archival material through the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and to restore specific Maronite churches and an Armenian monastery. The Imagine Project, aimed at promoting peace education, will recommence under the guidance of the Technical Committee on Education. Environmental projects will proceed through the Technical Committee on Environment, with the Technical Committee on Crisis Management tasked with establishing an emergency response mechanism.
The meeting took place in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia, with UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin in attendance. The United Nations described the meeting as "positive," noting that discussions on confidence-building measures, methodology, and substance would continue. Further discussions are planned, including a trilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General in the coming weeks.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has yet to be achieved. Previous discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and proposals by President Christodoulides have led to agreements on opening four new crossing points. However, decisions regarding these points await final approval, pending the Turkish army's consent for certain proposed routes.