The representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities announced on Friday a series of measures designed to facilitate their daily life and improve ties.
At a joint press conference in the UN-controlled buffer zone, senior aides to Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders unveiled six agreements the two sides have achieved.
The agreements covers educational programs, road safety, emergency health treatment and environment protection. They were worked out in the past two months by experts from the two sides.
Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the UN scretary-general's special representative in Cyprus, said these measures would help ease the daily life of Cypriots on the island.
"We believe additional measures could be announced in the coming days," he added.
He noted that the agreements proved the momentum of the peace process had not slowed, "in fact it's producing tangible results."
Six working groups and seven technical committees were set up in April comprising of 150 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot experts. They have been assigned to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between their leaders, who will meet again on July 1 to assess the work.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared breakaway and set up the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Turkey.
Although the two communities have agreed in principal on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation formula, big differences still remain on key issues such as power sharing, property and sovereignty. Source: Xinhua
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