As Interfax reports, until now crossing the border zone controlled by UN peacekeeping forces required a special permit. The dividing line was established in 1974 after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces and the division of the island into two parts - the northern, controlled by the Turks, and the southern, Greek.
The international community recognizes only the Greek-Cypriot government, with which a treaty was signed at the end of April on joining the European Union in 2004. It does not apply to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."