Unified Cyprus inches closer
27th February 2008
One of Europe’s greatest schisms – between the Turkish and Greek halves of Cyprus – may soon be healed, promising easier access and a growth in travel to the Turkish north of the island.
Following elections this week, the leaders of the divided island have expressed optimism that a solution to the 34-year-old split can be found. President-elect Demetris Christofias has invited the UN to broker talks with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mehmet Ali Talat, who said: "I believe it won't be a surprise if we solve the problem by the end of 2008".
Although travel in North Cyprus is perfectly possible (see our recent article here), you can only fly in from Turkey. As a result, development has been slower, and there are still huge stretches of coastline – notably along the spindly Karpaz Peninsula – untouched by villas and sunshades. Border controls between the two halves have relaxed in the last couple of years, but travellers leaving the north still risk having purchases confiscated by guards.
Nick Redmayne, who recently updated the Bradt guide to North Cyprus, told us: “If the two sides do manage to reconcile their differences, I’d expect a wave of interest in the north, and the possibility of direct flights from the UK. It may also accelerate the opening of extra border crossings and the use of seaports in the north.”