Ledra Street not to open if Turkish troops remain

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Tuesday that the government was not going to open the Ledra Street crossing point in Nicosia with the presence of Turkish troops and the Turkish demand for control over the buffer zone.

He added that ”if the Turkish side leaves the issue of the status of the middle line to be resolved by the UN, as we have proposed, instead of insisting on recognition of a status of dominion over the area, and if they accept the withdrawal of the troops from the area, the crossing point may open very soon.”

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said ”there are solid issues that we pointed out from the very first day and there has been no movement,” adding that he did not believe there were many people who would accept the opening of the crossing point if the Turkish side insisted on controlling the intermediate buffer zone and posting troops in the area.

”A crossing point aiming at cultivating a good attitude for relations between the two communities will become a source of bitterness and friction when the citizens pass to and from the Street and see Turkish troops reminding them that the occupation is here,” he added.

Asked if the Turkish side has handed its response to the UN, President Papadopoulos said ”everything is in the hands of UNFICYP, which for some weeks now, or even months, has been having contacts with the occupation forces on one hand, because it is not a matter of the Turkish Cypriot community, and our security forces on the other hand, and I hope that in the end the Turkish side will accept that which we have accepted.”

The National Guard, the island’s army, removed on March 8 the wall in Ledra Street, which was erected soon after the Turkish invasion. The government of Cyprus clarified that the demolition of the wall does not mean the opening of the crossing point to and from the Turkish occupied areas, unless security issues are addressed.

In a statement, the members of the Security Council ”urge both communities to work with the UN to open Ledra Street crossing.”