Cypriots tear down barricades on division symbol

Greek and Turkish Cypriots pulled down on Thursday barricades separating them for half a century on Ledra Street, a thoroughfare which has come to symbolise partition on war-divided Cyprus.

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

“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.”

Opening the road is a symbolic gesture ahead of negotiations to end the island’s division, which is an obstacle to Turkey’s hopes of joining the European Union.

The Cypriot communities have been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a brief Greek-inspired coup. The division on Ledra precedes that by some 15 years, when barricades were erected by Turkish Cypriots in 1958. A more permanent roadblock was erected after ethnic strife in 1963.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed last month to relaunch talks aimed at ending a 5-year stalemate in reunification efforts. Negotiations are expected to restart later this year. (R)