Greece Supports North-south Exchanges In Cyprus

ATHENS, Aug 1 (AFP) - Greece Sunday welcomed newly announced measures in Cyprus to boost trade and travel between the two sides of the divided island.
The measures announced by the Greek Cypriot government Friday will allow Turkish Cypriot buses, trucks and taxis to cross the UN-patrolled Green Line dividing the island.
Foreign ministry spokesman Georges Koumoutsakos said the Greek Cypriot action was "a new initiative of the Cypriot government, a new step in the attempt to resolve the problem" of partitition, "and reunify the island."
He said the measures were aimed at strengthening the economy of the Turkish Cypriots.
However, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said the development was welcome, but fell short of expectations.
Koumoutsakos added that the initiative was in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and the terms of the island's adhesion to the European Union.
Cyprus joined the EU May 1 after Greek Cypriots rejected and Turkish Cypriots approved a UN plan for reunifying the island. Since then, the EU has been trying to honor its pledge to alleviate the economic backwardness of the north as reward for backing the reunification plan.
The new measures allow Turkish Cypriot truck drivers to import goods directly from the north instead of having to go through Greek Cypriot middlemen.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey seized the north to forestall a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Turkey is the only country to recognize the sovereignty of northern Cyprus.