UN announces new Cyprus checkpoint

The UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has announced that effective 12.30 August 31, following agreement by the two sides, the Astromeritis-Zodhia crossing point will open.

UNFICYP also announced certain temporary arrangements to facilitate crossings, including opening hours and speed limit.

A press release said that crossing will be open to vehicular traffic between 06.00 and 19.00 daily, traffic movement will be one-way only in alternating periods, no vehicles heavier than 3 tons allowed access, all vehicles must be fully insured and there will be a 45 KPH speed limit.

There will be no stopping in the buffer zone and no pedestrian traffic will be allowed through, it added.

These arrangements, it pointed out, are subject to review pending the start of the EU-funded buffer zone road improvement project between the two checkpoints.