Cyprus Border Opening Reunites Old Friends

After the barriers dividing the island were demolished, old friends started finding each other, and friendships were rekindled. Until yesterday, Turkish Cypriot Aytan Baykul and Greek Cypriot Alexandra Enotiadi had not been able to see each other except in the no-man’s land dividing the island and at concerts given in Istanbul. Baykul, and Enotiadi met in a chorus that performs songs of the two countries that was established five years ago. The two friends were reunited by the opening of the border in Lefkosa (Nicosia) and they embraced each other in joy.

Baykul’s husband was martyred during the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus. Enotiadi, now a journalist, was 10 years old at the time but says she remembers all the details of those terrible days. This was the first time the two friends had been able to meet in the KKTC.

Abdulhamit Yildiz / Lefkosa / CYPRUS