The enclaved are voting at two polling stations

The 252 enclaved are exercising their right to vote at two polling stations, one in Nicosia district (Agios Dometios-two ballot boxes) and one in Famagusta district (Deryneia-3 ballot boxes). There are 252 enclaved, 186 in Famagusta district and 66 in Kyrenia district. Those in Nicosia, voted for the president of the Kormakitis community and members of the EP while those in Deryneia voted for the president of the community of Agia Triada, the Leko community and members of the EP. In the other areas the community leaders have already been proclaimed, as there were unrivaled. Most of the enclaved went to the polling stations in the morning accompanied by their relatives. The center at Agios Dometios is very close to the buffer zone. They said the process was easy as they received only two ballot papers, for president of the community and for MEPs. Others said their grandchildren and other relatives informed them about the process and said they hoped Cyprus will be freed at last. Voting went smoothly and no d elays were reported, they remarked. In at least eight cases, the office of the Head of Humanitarian Affairs for Missing and Enclaved Persons has been contacted to obtain special authorization to change the center in which they vote. Authorities note that the enclaved who wish to vote at their nearest polling station can do so provided they receive permission by the Office of the Chief Elections Registrar, through the Humanitarian Affairs Service. Contact numbers for any information are 22400108 and 22400109. The Agios Dometios polling station was visited earlier Sunday by the Chief Returning Officer Elikkos Elias, who stated that already 44 out of 66 enclaved people in the Kyrenia district out have exercised their right to vote. "The vote is going smoothly and we are optimistic that the majority of our enclaved people will vote. Most of the occupied communities have already been proclaimed. Voters get two ballot papers for the community and for members of the European Parliament," he said. Elias said tha t voting is not difficult and the Ministry offers all the facilities to the enclaved to vote. The enclaved have the right to vote by showing any document of the Republic which bears their photograph. He also said that after the elections the authorities will see how all enclaved will get a new identity card. 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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Col?mbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency