“There has been no change” when it comes to crossing points, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday.

He was asked to comment on reports before attending the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, in Nicosia.

The police also commented earlier, saying that the procedure at the checkpoints has not changed. Crossings from the island’s Turkish-occupied areas to the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus continue as normal, a Police Press Office official told CNA.

The only thing that has changed, is the recording of additional details of individuals who present “identity cards” issued by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, when crossing, it was added.

Several reports in the Turkish Cypriot press appeared, saying that new rules applied when crossing into the fee areas of the Republic of Cyprus and that “IDs” issued by the illegal authorities in the Turkish occupied areas were no longer allowed.

A new statement from the police, in reply to reports, said they were not true and that crossings continued uninterrupted, “ensuring the smooth implementation of the right to free movement of all Cypriots, European citizens and legal residents.”

“The Cyprus Police carries out, for public security purposes, the necessary checks, without exceptions, in accordance with national legislation and the provisions of the Green Line Regulation,” the police added.

Speaking to CNA, competent sources said that there is no change in the policy regarding crossing points and that any delays may be due to an upgrade in IT systems and the necessary update of data for Turkish Cypriots and members of their families.

According to the same sources, there has been an upgrade in the Civil Registry and Migration Department systems, were crossings of Turkish Cypriots and of their family members are listed.

In view of this upgrade, data contained in the systems are being updated and when missing data are found or when listed data contain errors, more details are required to complement or correct them, they said, noting that this is carried out once.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. Several crossing points allow people to cross the UN-controlled land that separates the northern Turkish occupied areas from the southern, government controlled part of the country.