The wall dividing the Cypriot side from the Turkish side, in Ledra Street, Nicosia was bulldozed in the early hours of yesterday morning, to the complete surpirsed of all concerned.

This is now the sixth crossing to be opened but the first in the city centre.

The Greeks welcomed the move, but there was a slightly more reserved response from the Turkish side. The Greek Cypriots have asked for the Turkish troops to be removed from the crossing.

Lets hope this is a move forward.

Turkish troops are there, because there are security problems for Turkish people on the island.
We Turkish people never hate any nations on the World unless they behave us unfriendly.
I hope they will behave us friendly and peace will come.
Please keep in mind Atatürk's words which is our peace philosphy:
"Peace at home,peace in the world "

Does that mean this is a bias article? It also said that the Turks are looking forward to an increase in tourism from the Cypriot side. I suppose you only know the truth if you live there.

"Greek Cypriots have demolished a key section of the barrier dividing the island's capital city, Nicosia.
The Green Line has separated Cyprus's Greeks from the Turkish population since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the north.

The work in Ledra Street began under cover of darkness and had not been publicised in advance.

But the Greek Cypriot authorities say Turkish troops must pull back before people can cross in either direction.

Ledra Street - a pedestrianised shopping area - would be the sixth crossing point on the divided island.

The move was welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, as "a positive development".

The UN chief of mission, Michael Moller, also hailed it as "a positive contribution of great significance", the AFP news agency reported.

The street was cordoned off to allow heavy equipment and demolition crews to move into position.

A small crowd watched the action, applauding when work on tearing down the barrier began.

"This is a show of goodwill on our side to contribute positively to opening Ledra Street," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes told state television.


It used to be a bustling road in the heart of Nicosia's commercial district but for more than 40 years it has been blocked by a large wall and a viewing platform overlooking the demilitarised strip separating north from south.


In December a controversial bridge over the wall was removed

The structures have been replaced by plastic barricades.

The Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in the north is recognised only by Turkey.

In December the Turkish Cypriot authorities dismantled a controversial footbridge on Ledra Street, which was built in 2005. It had angered Greek Cypriots, who said it encroached into the UN buffer zone separating the two sides.

The Green Zone is policed by United Nations troops, amid barbed wire and dilapidated buildings with sand bags still sitting in the windows.

Cyprus was partitioned after a Turkish invasion in 1974, which came shortly after a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta ruling Greece at the time.

Shortly before joining the European Union in 2004 the Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations plan to reunify the island.

The BBC's Chloe Hadjimatheou says it will be a while before Ledra Street opens fully.


First the disused ordnance and derelict buildings will have to be made safe and then UN forces will have to establish a checkpoint to police the crossing".

from BBC News, 2007/03/09

ACTION WAS STAGED AT THE LEDRA STREET


Meanwhile, an action was staged at the Ledra Street this morning calling for the opening of the street for the crossings of the two peoples of the island.

The action, titled `The wall is demolished, Open the Street Now` was organized by the Committee for the Opening of the Ledra Street which has been continuing a campaign to achieve this objective.

During the action, a group of fanatics carrying Greek flags chanted slogans against the action.

The action by the Committee for the Opening of the Ledra Street was supported by some Greek Cypriot political parties and some Turkish Cypriot societies.

Those taking part in the action carried banners saying ‘Common Struggle for the Opening of the Gates’, ‘No Border Gates’, ‘Open Ledra’, ‘Our Songs are for Ledra’.

Speaking during the action, the Head of the Committee for the Opening of the Ledra Street Valentina Sofokleus welcomed the demolition of the wall and said it is the turning point for the free movement of the people in Cyprus.

But, she said that the knocking down of the wall cannot be called as a success and stressed that what counts is the final outcome.

She also expressed the hope that this positive atmosphere will help to open other border gates in the whole of the island.

She added that the Committee will continue its struggle until all gates are opened and the free movement of the people is secured.

In an address to the event, the Head of the Open the Gates Initiative Muhittin Ozsaglam also hailed the removal of the gate but said that this is not enough for the opening of a crossing at the point.

Stressing that the opening of a gate at Lokmaci will increase contacts between the two peoples of the island, he said that the aim should not be to open the gate at the Ledra Street but to open all gates around the island.

But the action was overshadowed by some fanatic youths who came to the street with Greek and Cyprus flags and chanted slogans against the peaceful action.

The fanatics chanted slogans saying `Cyprus is Greek` while those taking part in the action responded by saying `Peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus` and `Fascists leave Cyprus`.

The Greek Cypriot police was deployed to the scene as tension was raised by the aggressive manner of the Greek Cypriot fanatics.

After war of words between the two sides, the fanatics left the street and the action ended with the singing of peaceful songs by Yiltan Tasci and Adamos.

http://www.brtk.cc/index.php/lang/en/cat/2/news/8728