The Greek Cypriot side will be ready for the opening of the crossing points at Dherynia and Lefka at the beginning of October, a well-informed source has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), adding that the works undertaken by the Greek Cypriot side for the opening of the crossing point at Lefka will be finished by the end of this month.

CNA has learned that the opening of the two crossing points is expected to be discussed during the meeting which Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades will have on September 28 in New York with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. The President will inform Guterres about the developments on this issue.

The negotiator of the Greek Cypriot Andreas Mavroyiannis, and the Greek Cypriot head of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Crossing Points, Sotos Zackheos, inspected on Wednesday the works underway for the opening of the crossing point at Lefka, in Nicosia district, accompanied by employees of the Public Works Department and members of the contractor’s team.

The same source told CNA that all necessary constructions are almost ready at the government-controlled areas. The booths for identification and controls have been constructed, road paving is underway and a lot of work has been done, it added, noting that the other side has not constructed its booths yet.

It went on to say that the Greek Cypriot side will finish its works at the Lefka crossing point by the end of this month and will be technically ready for the opening of both crossing points, at Dherynia and Lefka, at the beginning of October.

Preparations for the opening of the crossing point at Lefta will be discussed on Thursday during a meeting that Mavroyiannis and Zackheos will have with the competent authorities (the Public Works Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department).

Asked about the Dherynia crossing point, in Famagusta district, the same source reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side is ready for its opening but a manned Turkish military post has not yet been removed from the area.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of UN-peace talks last year at the Swiss resort of Crans – Montana ended without an agreement. Talks held under the auspices of the UN aim at reunifying Cyprus under a federal roof.