NICOSIA, Aug 4 (AFP) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had released 2.5 million euros for de-mining the UN-manned buffer zone that divides the island.
"Work can start now for the actual mine clearing in the buffer zone by September. De-mining operations will first focus in and around Nicosia," said a statemnent issued by the European Commission here.
The European Union wants de-mining to start in earnest in Europe's last divided capital to help facilitate the opening of more checkpoints across the 180-kilometre (110-mile) ceasefire line to encourage the free flow of people and goods.
"New crossing points could be opened after mine clearing has taken place," said the statement.
The Greek Cypriot south of the Mediterranean island joined the European Union on May 1, a week after rejecting in a referendum a UN plan to reunify the island, thus shutting out the Turkish Cypriot north from the bloc.
But the EU pledged to reward Turkish Cypriots for backing a UN peace plan in the April 24 referendum. Encouraging greater contact between the two sides is seen as one way of lifting the north's economic isolation.
The internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government welcomed the EU offer.
"Promoting mine removal from the buffer zone will assist in opening new crossing points and improve communication between the two sides," said government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides.
An estimated 28 Turkish minefields lie inside the buffer zone along with eight confirmed Greek Cypriot army minefields containing a total of 1,024 anti-personnel and 1,759 anti-tank mines. No figures are available for the composition of the Turkish army minefields.
The mines were laid during the 1974 Turkish invasion when 35,000 troops seized the island's northern third in response to a coup in Nicosia with the aim to unite Cyprus with Greece.