BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents was broadcast on Thursday 6 March, 2003 at 1102 GMT.

For 40 years Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided.

And since 1974, a physical barrier of broken down buildings, barbed wire, sandbags and watchtowers has stood between them.

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All past attempts at bringing peace and reunification have failed.

But now, after massive demonstrations in the north, and with the carrot of EU membership held aloft, Cyprus has its best chance yet of putting the decades of divisions behind it.

Julian Pettifer travelled to this Mediterranean island, as the clock ticked towards a deadline for both sides to sign up to the latest UN peace plan.

He explored what Cypriots have to gain and lose from uniting their island once again.

Reporter: Julian Pettifer
Producer: John Murphy
Editor: Hugh Levinson

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