CYPRUS: Greek and Turkish Cypriots could this morning begin crossing the Green Line which has divided the two communities since Turkey occupied the north in 1974.
On Monday, the administration in the Turkish Cypriot state surprised both the Greek Cypriots and the UN peacekeeping force by declaring that a northern checkpoint would be open daily from 9 a.m. until midnight.
If implemented without conditions unacceptable to the Greek Cypriots, this decision would amount to an abrupt reversal of the longstanding separatist policy followed by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, and Ankara.
A source told The Irish Times, however, that no serious contingency planning had been done to handle the large numbers of people who might wish to cross.
Although the government of the internationally-recognised republic yesterday dismissed the move as "illegal", nothing will be done to stop Greek and Turkish Cypriots from exercising their right to free movement.
The government has always held that all citizens of the republic should be granted the three freedoms of movement, settlement and enjoyment of their property.
The Turkish Cypriot initiative pre-empted the announcement by the government of a series of confidence-building measures following the island's formal accession to the EU.
These measures are designed to allow trade between the two sides, and enable Turkish Cypriots to work in the Greek Cypriot majority south.
Last week Mr Denktash was cited by the UN Security Council for rejecting a UN plan for a reunification under a federation of two autonomous cantons.