Rival Cypriot leaders, who have not held peace talks for two years, picked up the phone Thursday to launch the divided island's newly integrated mobile phone network. The move allows residents of the internationally recognised south and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to use their mobile phones on both sides of the Mediterranean island.
Crossing the UN-controlled buffer zone snaking across Cyprus has been permitted since 2003. Making it possible to use mobile phones across the island was seen as a key UN-backed confidence building measure, but had been delayed for several years. The step was taken "with the aim of improving the communication between the communities and bringing all Cypriots closer together", a joint statement from Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said.