Limnitis Roadworks Contract Signed

Roadworks are set to start Monday March 29th on the Limnitis / Yesilirmak road after the United Nations signed a contract yesterday afternoon with Greek and Turkish Cypriot companies.

Once the roadworks are completed, a new checkpoint will be opened, and drivers from Nicosia will be able to get to the western side of the island to areas like Polis in less than half the time it takes now. The roadworks will take around four months and is on the agenda for discussion during the next meeting in ongoing peace talks, said Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou.

“Getting to today's signing was far from easy, but thanks to the perseverance and cooperation of the two sides, and particularly of the two leaders, as well as the untiring effort of many in the international community, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots -- and all the people of Cyprus -- are now taking one more determined step in their pursuit to remove obstacles to peace, reconciliation and prosperity in a reunited island,” said UN Special Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun.

The signing of the contract is “further tangible evidence that when there is a will, even what seem to be the most intractable problems can be solved," he said.

The FAP-Tarmac Joint Venture brings together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot companies and will upgrade the road between Kato Pyrgos/Asagi Pirgo and Limnitis/Yeşilirmak in the northwest of the island, allowing civilian traffic to flow again through the buffer zone running across the area.   

It is funded by the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

President Demetris Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on the opening of a buffer zone crossing at Limnitis/Yeşilirmak in June 2009.