Barricade dividing Greek and Turkish Cypriots torn down

Nicosia: Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Thursday pulled down barricades that have separated them for half-a-century, reopening Ledra Street, a potent symbol of Cyprus's ethnic partition.

The highly symbolic gesture comes as the two communities prepare talks to end the Mediterranean island's division, an obstacle to Turkey's hoped-for membership of the European Union and a source of tension between Nato partners Athens and Ankara.

Hundreds of Greek and Turkish Cypriots crossed Ledra after the 80-metre stretch of road in the main commercial district of Nicosia was opened to pedestrians in a ceremony attended by United Nations envoys and dignitaries from both communities.

An upmarket shopping street on the Greek Cypriot side, Ledra fans out in the north into a maze of haberdasheries and fruit markets, the traditional mainstay of merchants in Nicosia.

Glimpse of possibilities

"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, at the ceremony. "But the opening gives us a glimpse of what is possible."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a brief Greek-inspired coup. The rupture on Ledra Street 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.

"By opening this street, we hope the road to a solution to the Cyprus problem will also open," George Iacovou, an aide to Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, told reporters.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a statement: "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."

Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are expected to enter negotiations this summer. "This is a historic event," said Talat's aide, Ozdil Nami, at the opening.

"A small step, but a very important step."

Conflict

Tracing the faultline

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have agreed to restart peace negotiations by June, a move likely to aid Turkey's bid to join the EU, where Cyprus is now represented by its Greek Cypriots. Here are key facts on the conflict:

- History - Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 in a power-sharing deal between the Greek Cypriot majority and the Turkish Cypriot minority. Turkish Cypriots left government in 1963 in a rift over attempts to renegotiate their say. A UN peacekeeping force was sent in in 1964. A brief Greek-instigated coup prompted Turkey to invade in 1974, citing its right as a guarantor of Cypriot sovereignty. Greece and Britain were the other guarantor nations.

- Politics- The EU recognises the government which controls the Greek Cypriot south as representing the entire island in the bloc. The north is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state recognised only by Ankara, which has about 30,000 troops there. Greek Cypriot-led Cyprus has veto rights over Ankara's drive to join the EU, and Turkey's membership talks have been partly suspended because of the deadlock in Cypriot peace talks.

- Disputes- Key disputes between the sides are sovereignty, governance, territorial claims and people's settlement rights. The invasion and preceding violence uprooted an estimated 165,000 Greek Cypriots and 40,000 to 50,000 Turkish Cypriots, among a then total population of 630,000.

- Sovereignty - Disputes focus on whether a peace deal will be an evolution of the present Republic of Cyprus, as advocated by Greek Cypriots, or a "virgin birth" and merging of two equal states, advocated by Turkish Cypriots.

- Governance - There are disputes on how much say will go to each community in the context of a federal system, and what deadlock-easing mechanisms can be adopted for the smooth functioning of the state.

- Guarantor system - Greek Cypriots will not accept any system of third countries offering the island guarantees of its sovereignty similar to the one set up in 1960. Turkish Cypriots say they need Turkish guarantees because of past experience with Greek Cypriots.

- Settlement - Greek Cypriots want the right to return to their former homes in northern Cyprus. There is disagreement as to whether a bi-zonal federation would permit free movement or try to enforce the ethnic majorities in north and south.