Cyprus to be separated into two time zones

Cyprus will be separated into two time zones, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Friday.

They said the occupied part of Cyprus decided to keep the summer time all year round when the European summer time ends in October, following the example of Turkey.

Greek Cypriots will revert to winter standard time (GMT+2) and turn their clocks one hour back.

Turkey announced on Tuesday to continue energy saving summer time beyond Oct. 30.

Cyprus was partitioned when Turkey occupied its northern part in a 1974 military operation staged in reaction to a coup by military rulers of Greece at the time.

The United Nations which administer the buffer zone through a peacekeeping force said the two sides will decide when and how to address the time issue.

"The U.N. remains focused on facilitating the sides with their efforts to reach a comprehensive solution as soon as possible," said U.N. spokesman in Nicosia Allen Siddique.

"This is not a serious issue," said Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, currently in Athens for a summit of Mediterranean European Union countries to coordinate a common strategy policy on foreign affairs, economy and the refugee crisis.

But he added that it adds to the argument of the Greek Cypriot side that Turkey's guarantee rights over Cyprus will have no place when a new federal state comes out of the negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Endit