Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Turkish Cypriot authorities started dismantling a roadblock on a street in partitioned Nicosia on Thursday which has been a key symbol of the island's division for more than four decades, witnesses said.

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot officials, keen to promote contacts, have had separate talks with the United Nations on opening up Ledra Street, but there had been no clues to when the work would begin.

Ledra Street, a thoroughfare running north to south through the heart of Nicosia, has been blocked since 1964, but trucks and bulldozers tore down an observation post, scrap metal and barrels forming a barrier on the Turkish Cypriot side.

It was not immediately clear how the Greek Cypriots would respond. Their army has a military outpost on the southern part of Ledra, but officials had said they were ready to open their side of the street.

"It will open, hopefully, before Christmas. The plans are all ready," said Simavi Asik, deputy mayor of the Turkish-Cypriot part of Nicosia.

Opening up Ledra Street is hugely symbolic for the 250,000 residents of the mediaeval city, ringed with Venetian walls.

It crosses a United Nations controlled corridor running east to west, lined with crumbling buildings and abandoned by its residents decades ago, which is one of the most enduring features of Cyprus's division.

Asik said Turkish Cypriot authorities planned to build a pedestrian bridge crossing military areas in the buffer zone to connect the two communities. "It will bring economic benefits for both sides within the walled city," he told Reuters.

Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 in response to a brief Greek Cypriot coup, but tension between the island's Greeks and Turks dates back to the 1950s.

Ledra Street was first blocked in 1958, when Turkish Cypriot residents temporarily withdrew into enclaves as Greek Cypriots mounted an armed campaign against British colonial rule.

Independence in 1960 was followed by a constitutional crisis in 1963, when the Turkish Cypriots withdrew from a power-sharing administration.

Will Turkish soldiers remain there?

[Maria28]

What kind of shops do they have in the north part of Ledras?

[sadik]

What kind of shops do they have in the north part of Ledras?

There are a variaty of things but are mostly clothing and textile.

[RAFAELLA]

What kind of shops do they have in the north part of Ledras?

Interested in shopping Maria?

[Piratis]

Will Turkish soldiers remain there?

I don't know if they will wear military uniforms or not. What is certain is that the Turkish army will certainly be at every point on both sides of the street.

[Sotos]

Greek side raises concerns over Ledra crossing
The Greek Cypriot side may not agree to open Ledra and Ermou streets if it suspects the work being done is deliberately designed to give the Turkish side any military or political advantage, the Sunday Mail learned yesterday.

As news emerged yesterday that Turkish troops and Turkish Cypriot municipal workers had begun clearing Ermou street and knocking down a wall that had been built since 1974, an official source expressed concern that the Turkish side’s motives were suspect.

Ermou runs perpendicular to Famagusta Gate through the old town and crosses Ledra Street a few feet beyond the manned barricade at the end of the pedestrian area. The Turkish side plans to build a bridge over the Ermou-Ledra crossroad for pedestrians to use when crossing sides

“Ermou is supposed to be under occupation or in the Green Line,” said the source. “It appears as if they are trying to encroach on the Green Line. Ermou crosses Ledra and they want to keep the possibility of patrolling Ermou, and they want to create a bridge to connect the two parts. These are machinations that don’t show good faith.”

Yesterday Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ Ferdi Sabit Soyer said the work on Ledra Street was going ahead but he accused the Greek Cypriot side of dragging its feet so that the crossing point would not open.

Soyer said work had started on the bridge, which he said would be 2.5 metres wide. He said it was hoped the crossing would be open in a matter of weeks.

“The government is ready to open the crossings provided there are no machinations and encroaching on the Green Line,” said the official source. “The government is not going to agree if there is any military advantage or political advantage if this is about creating impressions or gaining points.”

He said the government as waiting to see how the Turkish side would set up the crossing but warned there was a possibility the Greek Cypriot side would not agree.

“A bona fide and sincere intent must be the only basis for opening the crossings,” said the source.

It is believed that UNFICYP is keeping a close eye on the work being carried out on the Turkish side as parts of the buffer zone are not carved out in stone, and if any patrolling is to be done in Green Line areas it will continue to done by the UN.

UNFICYP personnel are currently carrying out a ordinance survey of the Ledra and Ermou areas, which should be completed by the end of next week.

The Sunday Mail has learned that the UN also suspects there may be something in the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side in terms of encroaching on the Green Line.

[BirKibrisli]

The government is ready to open the crossings provided there are no machinations and encroaching on the Green Line,” said the official source. “The government is not going to agree if there is any military advantage or political advantage if this is about creating impressions or gaining points.”

For the love of God,can anyone explain to me what further "military or political advantage" can the TRNC have by opening a gate.There are already 40,000 plus Turkish soldiers on the island,and the TRNC has gained all the advantege it will ever gain from the aftermath of the referandum.Who is going to gauge this "advantage" and what criteria will they use?Another case of shadow boxing,imho.While Cyprus burns...

[sadik]

The government is ready to open the crossings provided there are no machinations and encroaching on the Green Line,” said the official source. “The government is not going to agree if there is any military advantage or political advantage if this is about creating impressions or gaining points.”

For the love of God,can anyone explain to me what further "military or political advantage" can the TRNC have by opening a gate.There are already 40,000 plus Turkish soldiers on the island,and the TRNC has gained all the advantege it will ever gain from the aftermath of the referandum.Who is going to gauge this "advantage" and what criteria will they use?Another case of shadow boxing,imho.While Cyprus burns...

This is what I wonder too.

[Piratis]

The problem is that the Turkish army is moving in such a way that they make claims over the buffer zone.

Why do you think the Turkish army is making such moves? Is there any doubt that they do them in order to benefit their own side?

If they wanted to make a goodwill move they should have atleast returned Famagusta.

[Viewpoint]

The problem is that the Turkish army is moving in such a way that they make claims over the buffer zone.

Why do you think the Turkish army is making such moves? Is there any doubt that they do them in order to benefit their own side?

If they wanted to make a goodwill move they should have atleast returned Famagusta.

So that the goodwilled GCs can continue isolation of the north,(eg economic hostage) you are funny Piratis. Learn to be European minded, you seem to keep chanting their song but you dont really know the words.

Anything the north does will be reduced to insignificance becuuase this is what serves GC interests they were hardly going to say that the north has taken the first step towards opening another crossing point, this should be applauded. Not GC mentality or definately not very European but its good that you make suck wild cliams only goes to fuel the international mistrust of GCs real intentions. Even you Mr Simitis confirms that Tassos does not want a solution, the status quo just suits him just fine and his ability to keep your eyes closed and the sheep will follow.