Greek Cypriots close newly-opened symbolic Ledra Street crossing

Stefanos Stefanou, a spokesman for the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, has confirmed the decision to close the crossing between the Turkish Cypriot north and Greek Cypriot south in central Nicosia, AP reported. It added Stefanou said Turkish Cypriot police have illegally patrolled part of the street.         Â

"It is closed because of a violation of what was agreed by the occupation authorities," Greek Cypriot Justice Minister Kypros Chrysostomides told the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Â

In a ceremony attended by the United Nations, aides to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders and local officials, the 80-meter stretch of road in the main commercial district of Nicosia was declared open to pedestrians.

Police of the Turkish Cypriots also closed Lokmaci Gate for crossings on Thursday.   The decision to close the gate for crossings came after the Greek Cypriot administration unilaterally shut down the Ledra Gate.

Turkish Cypriots reacted to the closure of the Ledra Gate unilaterally by Greek Cypriot administration late Thursday. "If the Greek Cypriots have problems, we can discuss them. However, our  borders are not debatable," said Foreign Minister of Turkish Cypriots Turgay Avci.

"That part of the boulevard is actually a part of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). All locations within the boundaries of the TRNC cannot be questioned or opened for debates. We will not let any arguments on TRNC territory," Avci quoted as saying by Anatolian Agency. Avci called on the Greek Cypriots to correct their mistake. "I hope that the Lokmaci Gate gets re-opened," Avci told.

During the ceremony of opening the gate colored balloons were released into the sky to mark the formal opening of Ledra Street. Nicosia mayor Eleni Mavrou described the move as a "first step" towards the reunification of the island.

The gate remained closed for 45 years since the start of communal conflict in Cyprus in 1963. British peacekeepers laid barbed wire across the street between Nicosia's Greek and Turkish Cypriot sectors.                         Â

Officials from both sides of the divide cut ribbons to colored helium balloons to mark the opening of the street at the end of a ceremony attended by Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials as well as U.N. peacekeepers.      Â

"We are living a historic day today. We are witnessing one of the obstacles to a solution come down," said Ozdil Nami, aide to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who said that "almost half a century of division is symbolized" in Ledra Street.   Â

Thursday's move was agreed at a meeting in March between newly elected Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Talat, who also agreed to end stalemate in reunification efforts.  Â

"It also symbolizes for me that when Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots can overcome their fears .... they can overcome long - standing disputes and arguments," he said during a ceremony to open the street.

"We all know opening 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."

 

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Peace negotiations have been stalled since 2004 when the Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. blueprint which was accepted by the Turkish community.

It is the second crossing point in Nicosia for pedestrians and the fifth crossing gate to open between Turkish and Greek sides since 2003.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the opening of a symbolic crossing through the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, which he sees as "symbol of a new and hopeful environment."

In a statement, Ban "warmly welcomes" the opening of the crossing at Ledra Street in the old town of Nicosia. "Since its closure in 1963, Ledra Street has come to represent the division of Cyprus," Ban said.

"Its reopening today, after more than four decades, is the symbol of a new and hopeful environment. As the Cypriots now embark on what will be a challenging process towards renewed negotiations aimed at reunifying the island, the United Nations is fully committed to help them succeed."

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday "it shows the two sides on the island are ready to put aside the difficulties of the past and work together to bring a comprehensive settlement and reunification to Cyprus under the aegis of the United Nations."

In Strasbourg, France, Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said the barricades had been a "symbol of the partition of the island and of the separation its two main communities.

"The re-opening of this street, once so vibrant, brings new hope to all Cypriots that their country will soon be reunited and that Nicosia, like Berlin, will again become one city and one capital."

 

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Known in Greek as Ledra, the ancient name of Nicosia, the street is known in Turkish as Lokmaci, so named after shops selling sweet dumplings in the area.

British newspapers in the 1950s nicknamed the street "murder mile" because of the frequency by which British colonial troops came under attack there by Greek Cypriot guerillas.

First barricades dividing the road were set in 1958 by Turkish Cypriots to prevent members of their community shopping at Greek-owned stores. They came down in 1960, were re-erected in 1963 and came down briefly in 1968.

The barricades stayed in place after the Turkey's military invention to the island, using its mandate under the international agreements, triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.