Turks offer to dismantle controversial bridge, but ask Greeks to remove ‘offensive’ signs
THE TURKISH Cypriot Nicosia Municipality said yesterday it was willing to remove the bridge it has built at the Ledra Street barricade, as long as the Greek Cypriot side reciprocated by removing “offensive” signs at the proposed new crossing and the one at Ledra Palace.
“We would be willing to remove the bridge if they reciprocate by addressing some of things we find offensive,” the municipality’s deputy mayor Semavi Asik told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. He added that the controversial bridge, built in order to allow the Turkish Cypriot military access to the area, might no longer be necessary.
“Two months ago it seemed necessary to have a bridge there. But over the last two months it has become clear in discussions with all the bodies involved in the project, including the government and the military, that it is not imperative. I think we can convince everyone of this”
But Asik said he was doubtful the Greek Cypriot side would respond positively to the Turkish Cypriot side’s removal of the bridge and that other objections would be found to continue the impasse.
Foreign Minister George Iacovou responded to Asik’s statement by saying, “They should tell these things to the UN, and then if the UN believes they are serious, they will tell us”.
He denied further objections would be found, saying that as long as actions taken to open the barricade were done in co-operation, rather than unilaterally, further problems would not arise.
Iacovou’s comments were in line with a UN statement made earlier this month that unilateral initiatives were “incompatible with the spirit of the confidence building measures that have driven carefully co-ordinated efforts to promote and ensure the orderly opening of crossing points on the island”.
Apart from the unilateral approach taken by the Turkish Cypriot side, Iacovou also said there were objections to the continued presence of Turkish of Turkish Cypriot military in the immediate area of the crossing.
“The bridge was build to facilitate the Turkish military, but under the original proposal there was no invigilation by them,” he said.
Nicosia Mayor Mikalakis Zampelas, however, greeted Asik’s comments as “excellent news” and told the Mail he would contact Asik to discuss the apparent shift in the north’s stance.
“Hopefully we will hear these statements officially soon,” he added.
Zampelas said, however, that it was not in his remit to remove the “offensive” signs at the Ledra Palace crossing and in Ledra Street.
The signs at the Ledra Palace crossing show images of Greek Cypriot Tassos Isaac being beaten to death by far-right Grey Wolves in the presence of a Turkish Cypriot policeman. The caption reads “Turkish Law and Order”. Another depicts the death of Solomos Solomou, who was shot by Turkish soldiers while attempting to remove a ‘TRNC’ flag from a flagpole during a demonstration in Dherynia. Both incidents took place in 1996 during a time of raised tensions sparked by a church-backed attempt by motorcyclists to cross to the north and raise the Greek flag in Kyrenia. A sign at the end of Ledra Street, the site of the proposed crossing, reads, “Nothing is gained without sacrifices, and freedom without blood”.
