Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

so this is the summary of the today from our window .....i wonder what looks like from ........ windows ????

LOKMACI GATE IS OPENED WITH GREAT HOPES FOR UNIFICATION

The historic Lokmaci Gate which has been the symbol of division for 45 years has finally been opened for crossings with great hopes.

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have witnessed the opening of Lokmaci together with the hopes for peace and reunification.

A special ceremony was held at Lokmaci this morning which was marked by high participation of people and peaceful slogans.
The opening of the Lokmaci Gate for crossings is seen as the overthrowing of a symbol of division in Cyprus which raised hopes towards lasting peace on the island.

Peaceful speeches were delivered during the opening ceremony which all highlighted the expectation that the opening of Lokmaci will help the solution of the Cyprus problem gain a momentum.

The first speech was delivered by the Greek Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christofias’ aide Yorgos Yakovu who expressed his willingness for the elimination of all barricades in Cyprus.

Referring to the establishment of working groups and technical committees following the start of negotiations between the two leaders of the island, Mr Yakovu said they will be doing their best to reach an agreement for the future of Cyprus as soon as possible.

`It is not an easy road and this difficult road has led to this happy occasion. I hope we will overcome all problems through negotiations aimed at uniting the island and reaching peace` Mr Yakovu added.

Another speech was delivered by the aide of TC Leader Mehmet Ali Talat- Ozdil Nami who referred to the opening as `historic`.

`We are witnessing the overthrow of one of the obstacles in the way towards reunification of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots can solve the problems by building mutual trust through good will` he said.

Mr Nami stated that a new era has been opened and that this is the continuation of positive moves that have been taking place in Cyprus recently.

The Turkish Cypriot aide said the opening of the crossing point at Lokmaci indicates that the two sides in Cyprus are able to overcome fear and arguments.

He went on saying that the opening of Lokmaci marks a new era in Cyprus with a new understanding and that this must be put into good use.

`This is an important day not only for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots but also for the whole world who has been watching us` Mr Nami added.

For his part, the Mayor of Lefkosa Turkish Municipality Cemal Bulutoglulari stated that with the opening of Lokmaci the capital Lefkosa has been reunified.

Mr Bulutoglulari thanked all those who participated in the preparatory works.

Later, the Mayor of South Lefkosa Eleni Mavrou said the Lokmaci barricade has been the symbol of long decades of hate.

She stressed that the opening of Lokmaci generates the hope that `something` can happen in Cyprus and wished that it will give inspiration to peaceful efforts.

`Bullet holes around us show us that there is still a long way to go for a solution and the agreement reached between Talat and Christofias is a response to our expectations` Mavrou said, finalizing her speech in the Turkish language by saying `Peace in Cyprus, Insallah!`.

The UNFICYP Chief of Mission Elizabeth Spehar in her speech pointed to the long process in the way towards a settlement in Cyprus but stressed that the opening of Lokmaci is a good sign which signifies what can be done for a solution.

A statement was also read out by an EU official on behalf of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn which said Mr Rehn is delighted that the two sides have moved ahead with the decision to open Lokmaci.

Underlining the symbolic value of the opening, Mr Rehn stated that the opening shows that the two sides are ready to put aside the difficulties of the past and work together for a comprehensive settlement and reunification in Cyprus under the aegis of the United Nations.

He added that the EU Commission will fully support initiatives aimed realizing this goal.

In the meantime, the Citizens’ Initiative for the Opening of Lokmaci has organized a feast in the Lokmaci area for this evening to celebrate the opening.

[halil]

[halil]

from others window.........................

Cyprus opens barricaded street in divided Nicosia
www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-03 18:57:41
NICOSIA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Greek and Turkish Cypriots opened a long barricaded commercial street in the heart of old walled town of Nicosia Thursday morning, a highly symbolic step on their road toward possible reunification of the divided island.

The Ledra Street has been closed since 1963, when violence erupted between the two rival communities. The capital was later divided into Turkish Cypriot north and Greek Cypriot south by a UN monitored buffer zone, which also separated the whole east Mediterranean island.

UN officials in Cyprus and foreign diplomats joined senior advisors to two communities' leaders and municipal heads from both sides at a brief ceremony, which turned into a spontaneous celebration, especially on the Turkish Cypriot side.

Elizabeth Spehar, acting special representative of UN secretary-general in Cyprus, said this beautiful island "finally gave way to let all the people of Nicosia come together in the heart of the city."
ID checks and controls are still conducted on the Turkish Cypriot side and "visas" are issued at the new crossing point, as the case of other crossings along the 180 km buffer zone.

Greek, Turkish cultures mix in reopened Nicosia street

Athens/Nicosia - Ledra Street in the divided Cypriot capital Nicosia is lined with upmarket boutiques and fast food outlets on its southern stretch. In the north, Lokmaci, as the street is known in Turkish, opens up onto a maze of tea houses, kebab stands and traditional merchants' shops.
On Friday, the street which runs from north to south through Nicosia and whose buildings had been left to decay for decades opened to pedestrians for the first time in 44 years.
"We all know that the opening of Ledra Street does not mean the Cyprus problem is resolved. There is much more hard work to be done," said Elizabeth Spehar, the chief of mission for the United Nations in Cyprus.

"But the opening gives us a glimpse of what is possible when all the elements come together," she added.

The reopened area links the two sides of Ledra Street, closed since 1963 and becomes the sixth crossing point where people can cross between the Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north.

Hundreds of Cypriots gathered for the ceremony began crossing as soon as the street was reopened, showing their ID card or passports.

"It is very moving," 30-year-old Zoe Samara told Deutsche Presse- Agentur .