The March 29 2010 start of work on opening a long-awaited crossing point at Limnitis/Yesilirmak marks an important step forward in building confidence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the European Commission said.

Marking the ceremony, European Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle said "I welcome that today works start on the road between Kato Pyrgos/Asagi Pirgo and Limnitis/Yeşilirmak with the financial support from the EU. This will allow later in the year to open a new crossing point at the Green Line, offering new opportunities in the every day lives of many Cypriots".

On June 26 2009, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat took the decision to agree on the opening of the Limnitis/Yeşilirmak crossing point.

March 29 marks the start of work on upgrading the 5.7km road between Kato Pyrgos/Asagi Pirgo and Limnitis/Yeşilirmak in the northwest of the island which, on completion later in the year, will enable the crossing of goods and people.

The EU is contributing 2.5 million euro to the works from the 259 million euro aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community managed by the European Commission.

This makes the EU the single largest contributor to the five million euro project. The EU had previously funded the technical feasibility study for the work.

On March 24, UN peacekeeping mission chief of mission Tayé-Brook Zerihoun described the signing by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as "further tangible evidence that when there is a will, even what seem to be the most intractable problems can be solved."

Earlier, the UNDP signed a contract for the work with a local joint venture, the FAP-Tarmac Joint Venture, which brings together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot companies.